Obedience: Situational Variables

Question 1

What is proximity?

Answer 1

The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving the order to

Question 2

Describe Milgram’s Proximity variation

Answer 2

Both the teacher (T) and Learner (L) were in the same room
- in touch proximity variation the T had to force L’s hand onto a electroshock plate

Question 3

What were the findings of the proximity variation?

Answer 3

Obedience dropped to 40%
touch proximity: Obedience dropped to 30%

Question 4

Explanation for proximity results

Answer 4

Decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions

Question 5

Describe Milgram’s Location variation

Answer 5

Conducted a variation in a run-down office block as opposed to prestigious Yale University

Question 6

Findings from location variation

Answer 6

Obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 7

Explanation for location variation findings

Answer 7

The university environment gave Milgram’s study legitimacy and authority; ps perceived that the Experimenter shared this legitimacy and obedience was expected

Question 8

Explain Milgram’s Uniform variation

Answer 8

Baseline study: experimenter wore grey lab coat
Variation: role of experimenter was taken over by an ordinary member of the public (a confederate)

Question 9

Findings from uniform variation

Answer 9

Obedience dropped to 20%

Question 10

Explanation for uniform variation findings

Answer 10

Uniforms encourage obedience because they are widely recognised symbols of authority - we accept that someone in a uniform is entitled to expect obedience