obedience

Question 1

apart from ethical issues, give one strength and one limitation of milligrams study

Answer 1

STRENGTH: 
- conducted in a lab setting 
- easily be replicated and not seen as a one-off 
- increases reliability 
- see whether the independent variable is the one affecting the dependent 
WEAKNESS:
- artificial setting 
- showed demand characteristics 
- acted 
- loss of external validity

Question 2

Why are people more likely to obey a nurse in the hospital rather than outside the hospital?

Answer 2

• question the motive of the person giving the order
• Not accepting that the person giving the order has legitimate authority
• not wearing uniform, not highest in the hierarchy of authority
• uniform symbolises an authoritative figure

Question 3

ethical issues with Milgram

Answer 3

1) right to withdraw
- forced to continue
- use of prods “it is essential that you continue”
- ppts acted against their conscious/morals
2) ppts harmed
- sweating, trembling, shaking, seizures
- some individuals took moral responsibility for their actions when in fact they only obeyed because of the situation
- embarrassed and guilty

Question 4

why do people obey?

Answer 4

1) legitimate authority
- person giving the order has the right to do so
- location and uniform = symbolic of authority
2) agentic state
- ppts acting as an agent carrying out the order
- not autonomous
- not take the blame
3) dispositional explanation
- authoritarian personality
- submissive to authority
- due to strict upbringing
- cognitive style of thinking

Question 5

authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience in authority

Answer 5

• Adorno et al (1950) measured by f scale, use of closed questions to determine whether they have an authoritarian personality
• due to strict upbringing
• hostile towards weaker targets
• submissive to authority
• cognitive style of thinking
• no fuzziness
• stereotypes