milgram studies

Question 1

what is Milgram’s research on?

Answer 1

obedience and authority

Question 2

in Milgram’s experiment what role was the participant allocated to?

Answer 2

teacher

Question 3

what role does the stooge play in Milgram’s experiment?

Answer 3

learner

Question 4

how is the participant asked to punish the learner when they make a mistake?

Answer 4

giving electric shocks, which increased in voltage

Question 5

what percentage of participants continued to the highest level of shock?

Answer 5

62.5%

Question 6

which experimental variations decreased shock levels given?

Answer 6

when participants were given free choice over shock, and when experimenter gets called away and a stooge participant thinks up a scheme (implies legitimacy of authority figure is important)

Question 7

what were the observations of the study?

Answer 7

participants not psychopaths- show visible stress, many participants continued, they do not just do what anyone says (authority figure important), sometimes many refuse (contextual determinants)

Question 8

what is ‘unthinking obedience’ in terms of Milgrams studies?

Answer 8

participant is absorbed with the procedure, sees themselves as unthinking extension of technical apparatus in which they overlook their own role/responsibility. agents state= agent of the experimenter

Question 9

is ‘unthinking obedience’ really unthinking?

Answer 9

need to look at the point of view of the individual and their understanding of context- science: role of social beliefs and legitimacy

Question 10

what effect does it have on the participant when experimenters start to argue?

Answer 10

changes perception of competence, reduces conformity

Question 11

what effect does it have on the participant when there is a stooge participant who rebels?

Answer 11

if participants have a rebel to model, maximal obedience is reduced to 10%

Question 12

what do Reicher, Haslam and Smith (2012) say about ‘unthinking obedience’?

Answer 12

they argue that shocking is not ‘unthinking obedience’ but active identification with the experimenter and his mission. science: ‘I was happy to have been of service’

Question 13

what is Reicher, Haslam and Smiths ‘engaged followership’ hypothesis?

Answer 13

behaviour depends on experimenters ability to convince participants they were contributing to a progressive enterprise. implies willingness to perform unpleasant tasks depends on authority making these tasks seem virtuous rather than vicious

Question 14

ethics of the study?

Answer 14

no informed consent, participants rights to withdraw compromised? anxiety/damage?

Question 15

what did Burger (2009) observe was a key juncture?

Answer 15

150v is a key juncture. in Milgram’s work 79% of those who go beyond 150 go all the way to 450. Burger argues you can infer how people would behave if they were asked to continue above 150

Question 16

how did Slater et al (2006) use virtual reality in their experiment?

Answer 16

the virtual learner ‘responded’ as a human. measured teachers physiological reactions, and participants showed signs that implied they saw them as real

Question 17

what did Gonzales-Franco et al (2018) find in their study using virtual reality?

Answer 17

found that teacher placed emphasis on correct answer when reading out options. suggests that even when participants continue, they are thinking about the fate of the learner and seeking to help

Question 18

what did Hofling et al (1966) find in their study based on nurses and hospital policy?

Answer 18

found that nurses were willing to administer drugs without written orders (against hospital policy) when an authority figure asks them to. 21 out of 21 said they would theoretically refuse. when put into practice, 21 out of 22 were prepared to give the drug

Question 19

what is the popular image of Milgram’s research

Answer 19

popular image is that Milgram’s research is problematic. not unthinking obedience