Obedience to authority Flashcards
(14 cards)
What was the setting of Milgram’s electric shock experiments?
Participants believed they were at Yale university and were introduced to Mr. Wallace, a confederate.
What happened if Mr. Wallace recalled a word incorrectly during the experiment?
He was given a shock, with the intensity increasing for each incorrect answer.
How did participants perceive Mr. Wallace’s reactions during the experiment?
Participants could hear him protest through a speaker from a different room.
What effect did the proximity of the victim have on obedience?
Obedience fell by 40% when Mr. Wallace was in the same room.
What was the obedience percentage when the authority figure was in the same room as participants?
65% of participants gave the highest level of shock.
What happened to obedience when the authority figure gave orders over the phone?
Obedience fell to 20.5%.
How did the appearance of the authority figure affect obedience?
Obedience dropped to 20% when the authority figure was replaced by an ordinary person.
What was the obedience rate when the study was conducted in a rundown office?
Obedience fell to 47.5%.
What factor increased obedience when participants worked with someone who administered shocks?
Obedience rose to 90%, decreasing personal responsibility.
What effect did the support of others have on obedience during the experiment?
Higher disobedience from confederates generated social support.
What is an authoritarian personality?
A personality type that is respectful and more likely to follow orders.
Who developed the concept of the authoritarian personality?
Theodor Adorno et al.
What characteristics are associated with an authoritarian personality?
- Respect for authority figures
- Rigid beliefs and attitudes
- Strong belief in justice
- Right-wing politics
- Aggressiveness to those perceived as inferior
What scale did Theodor Adorno develop to test for authoritarian personality traits?
The F-scale.
