Research into obedience Flashcards
(7 cards)
who investigated obedience
MILGRAM (1963)
what was milgram’s aim of his research into obedience
to find out whether people will obey to unjust orders form a person of authority to inflict pain onto another person
what was the procedure of milgram’s research into obedience
40 male volunteers aged 20 - 50 paid $4.50 to take part in the experiment at the prestigious Yale University
-the p.t were deceived and told the study was about punishment in learning when it was actually about obedience
-a fixed draw was used so that the real p.t was always the teacher role
-the p.ts role was to administer a shock when the learner got an answer wrong
-the p.t watched the confederate get strapped in and inform the experimenter he had a heart condition
-milgram used a standardised recording of the learner reacting to shocks
-shocks were given after every incorrect answer going from 15 volts to 450 volts going up in 15v increments
-the experimenter encouraged them to continue with prods
what was the findings of milgram’s research into obedience
-100% of p.t wento to 300v on the generator
-65% of p.t went ot the full 450v
-most p.t found the experience stressful, showing signs of anxiety
what did milgram conclude from his findings in his research into obedience
-under certain circumstances, most people will obey orders that go against conscience
-when people occupy subordinate position in a dominance hierarchy they lose empathy, compassion and morality
strength of milgram’s research into obedience
P: Milgram used a controlled experiment
E: his research took place in a lab setting where standardised procedures were used for all p.t
E:This means that you can be sure that result is caused by obedience as EVs were controlled
L: This allows us to see cause and effect in that the person in authority caused obedience to happen
limitation of milgram’s research into obedience
P: Milgrams experiment lacked ecological validity
E: the experiment took place at Yale University, extremely prestigious
E: This means that p.t were more likely to obey due to the environment
L:This means they may not act this way in an everyday situation
