Milgram: Situational Variables

Question 1

What is the first level of proximity in Milgram’s experiment?

Answer 1

Teacher and learner in the same room

Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%

Question 2

What was the obedience rate when teachers had to put learners’ hands onto the shockplate?

Answer 2

30%

This was the second level of proximity.

Question 3

What happened to obedience rates when instructions were given over the phone?

Answer 3

20.5%

Participants pretended to give shocks and gave lower ones than instructed.

Question 4

What psychological effect does decreased proximity have on obedience?

Answer 4

Allows psychological distance from consequences

Example: Physical separation decreases awareness of harm.

Question 5

What was the obedience rate when the experiment was conducted in a rundown building?

Answer 5

47.5%

This was lower than the original study but still high.

Question 6

How does the location of an experiment affect obedience according to Milgram?

Answer 6

Prestigious environment increases perceived legitimacy

Obedience is higher in a university setting due to authority perception.

Question 7

What happened to obedience rates when a ‘member of the public’ in everyday clothes took over?

Answer 7

20%

This was the lowest obedience rate in all variations.

Question 8

What role does uniform play in obedience?

Answer 8

Encourages obedience as a symbol of authority

Society grants legitimacy to those in uniform.

Question 9

What’s a strength of situational variables?

Answer 9

Other studies have demonstrated the same effects

Bickman study: confederates in different outfits (jacket & tie, milkman uniform and secuity guard uniform) asking passers-by to perform tasks like picking up litter

Question 10

What did Bickman study’s conclude?

Answer 10

People were 2x as likely to help them when dressed as a security guard rather when in a jacket & tie

Supports the Milgram’s conclusion for uniform

Question 11

What’s another strength of situational variables?

Answer 11

Findings replicated in other cultures

Miranda et al found in obedience rating of over 90% in spanish students
= valid across cultures and genders

Question 12

What is a limitation regarding validity of Milgram’s study?

Answer 12

Lack of internal validity, participants may have realized the procedure was fake

Orne and Holland stated participants worked out the procedures was fake in milgram’s original study, more likely in variations
- unclear whether results are due to demand characteristics

Question 13

What is a limitation related to the cultural context of Milgram’s replications?

Answer 13

Most replications occurred in western, developed societies that are not that culturally different from america

This means findings may not be universally applicable.