Obedience Flashcards
(36 cards)
Obedience
A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order (the person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority, who has the power to punish when obedient behaviour isn’t forthcoming)
What was the aim of Milgram’s research into obedience
Wanted to know were the Germans different?
How many participants were involved in Milgram’s research into obedience
40 American men volunteered to take part in the study at Yale Uni
What was the procedure for Milgram’s research into obedience
Were a Teacher and Learner (always a confederate)- the learner had a heart ‘condition’. The teacher gives the learner a electric shock every time they get an answer wrong (shocks increased by 15v each time until 450v)
What was the results of Milgram’s research into obedience
65% gave highest shock of 450v. 100% gave shocks up to 300v
What was the conclusion of Milgram’s research into obedience
The Germans were not different as even the american participants were willing to obey orders even when they might harm another person
Evaluation points to obedience- Research Support
STRENGTH
French game show similarly replicated the study
80% gave max shock
Evaluation points to obedience- Low internal validity
LIMITATION
Participants realised the shocks were fake- ‘play-acted’
(Orne and Holland)
Evaluation points to obedience- Ethical issues
LIMITATION
Deception meant that participants couldn’t properly consent
What are the situational variables
- Proximity
- Location
- Uniform
Proximity findings
Obedience 40% with T and L in the same room, 30% for touch proximity
- The closer the person was to the person they were harming the obedience levels decreased
Location findings
Obedience 47.5% in run-down office building
University’s prestige gave authority
Uniform findings
Obedience 20% when Experimenter was ‘member of the public’
Uniform is symbol. of legitimate authority
Evaluation points of the situational variables in obedience- Research support
STRENGTH
Power of uniform- Bickman
Milk man vs police in asking to pick up litter
Evaluation points of the situational variables in obedience- Cross cultural replications
STRENGTH
Dutch participants ordered to say stressful things to interviewee
Decreased proximity led to decreased obedience
Evaluation points of the situational variables in obedience- Cant be generalised
LIMITATION
Most studies took place in countries similar to the US, so not generalisable
Evaluation points of the situational variables in obedience- Low internal validity
LIMITATION
Some of Milgram’s procedures in the variations were especially contrived, so not genuine obedience
What are the situational explanations of obedience
Agentic state
Autonomous state
Binding factors
Agentic state
Acting as an agent of another person
Autonomous state
Free to act according to conscience. Switching between the two- agents shift
Binding factors
Allow individuals to ignore the damaging effects of their obedient behaviour, reducing moral strain.
Evaluation of the situational explanation (Agentic state) of obedience- Research support
STRENGTH
Milgram’s resistant participants continued to give socks when the experimenter took responsibility
Evaluation of the situational explanation (Agentic state) of obedience- A limited explanation
LIMITATION
Cannot explain why Rank and Jacobson’s nurses and some of Milgram’s participants disobeyed
Legitimacy of authority
Created by hierarchical nature of society.
Some people entitled to expect obedience.
Learned in childhood
