Obedience : Situational Vaiables

Question 1

How does proximity affect Milgram’s original study ?

Answer 1

In the proximity variation , teacher and learner were in the same room were in the same room and the obedience rate dropped from65% to 40%. In the touch proximity , the teacher forced the learners hand onto a shock plate. The obedience rate was 30%. In the remote-instruction , the experimenter left the room and said the instructions over the phone the obedience rate dropped to 20%.
Explanation - decreased promoting allows people t psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions.

Question 2

What was the location variable in Milgram’s original study ?

Answer 2

The study was conducted in a run down building rather than a prestigious uni. Obedience dropped to 47.5%.
Explanation - obedience was higher in the uni because it was more legitimate and had authority

Question 3

What was the uniform variable in the Milgram’s original study ?

Answer 3

In one variation , he was called away by an inconvenience phone call at the start of the procedure. His role was taken over by an ordinary member of the public in everyday clothes. Obedience fell to 20%.
Explanation - a uniform is a strong symbol of legitimate authority granted by society - someone without a uniform has less right to expect obedience

Question 4

What is one strength of the situational variables ?

Answer 4

P - One strength is research support for the influence of situational variables
E - Bickmas’s confederates dressed in different outfits and issued demands to people on the streets of NYC. People were twice as likely to obey the security guard look a likes than the jacket and tie confederates
E - his shows that a situational variable , such as uniform does have a powerful effect on obedience

Question 5

What is another strength of the situational variables of Milgram’s study ?

Answer 5

P - Another strength is cross-cultural replication of Milgram’s research
E - Meeus and Raaijmakers worked with Dutch participants who were ordered to say stressful comments to interviewees. They found 90% obedience, and obedience fell when proximity decreased
E - This shows that Milgram’s findings are not limited to American males but are valid across different cultures.

Question 6

What is one limitation of the situational variables on the Milgram’s study ?

Answer 6

P - One limitation is low internal validity in the studies
E - Orne and Holland suggested the variations were even more likely to trigger suspicion because of the extra experimental manipulation. In the variation where the experimenter was replaced by a member of the public even Milgram recognised this was so contrived that some participants may have worked it out
E - Therefore it s unclear whether the results are due to obedience or because the participants saw the deception and ‘play acted’ (demand characteristics)

Question 7

What is another limitation of the situational variables that affect Milgram’s study ?

Answer 7

P - One limitation is the danger of the situational perspective
E - Milgram’s conclusions suggest situational factors determine obedience. Mandel argues this offers an excuse for genocide. Situational explanations hugely oversimplify the causes of the Holocaust and are offensive to survivors
E - This permits others to excuse destructive behaviour in terms of ‘ I was just obeying orders’