Obedience - milgram Flashcards
(14 cards)
What was the aim of Milgram’s obedience study?
To investigate obedience to authority, particularly how far people would go in obeying an instruction if it involved harming another person.
Who were the participants in Milgram’s study?
40 male participants, recruited via newspaper ads, aged 20–50.
What were participants told the study was about?
A memory study.
What role did the participant play in Milgram’s study?
The ‘teacher’ who administered shocks to the ‘learner’ (a confederate).
What happened when the learner (Mr. Wallace) made a mistake?
The teacher was instructed to give increasingly severe electric shocks.
Were participants aware the shocks were fake?
No, they were not told the shocks were fake or that the learner was an actor.
What were the obedience results in Milgram’s study?
0% stopped below 300V
12.5% stopped at 300V
65% went to 450V
What did Orne & Holland argue about Milgram’s study?
That it lacked internal validity—participants may have guessed the shocks were fake and were just acting.
What did Perry find about participant belief?
Only about 50% believed the shocks were real, suggesting demand characteristics.
What counterpoint supports the study’s validity?
Sheridan & King’s study where participants gave real shocks to a puppy—100% of females and 54% of males obeyed.
What did Haslam et al argue about obedience?
Obedience was more about identification with scientific aims than blind obedience—only the 4th prod required blind obedience.
According to Social Identity Theory, what explains obedience in Milgram’s study?
Identification with the scientific aims of the study, not blind obedience.
What ethical issues were raised by Milgram’s study?
Deception (participants believed shocks were real), lack of informed consent, and potential psychological harm.
What did Baumrind (1964) argue about Milgram’s ethics?
The deception could have serious consequences and harm the reputation of psychologists and their research.
