Research into Obedience : Milgram Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is obedience?
The result of social influence where somebody acts in response to a direct order from an authority figure (Cardwell 2000).
It is assumed that without such an order the person would not have acted tis way.
May sometimes be destructive, as when people comply with orders of malevolent authority.
What was the aim of Milgram’s study 1963?
Attempting to test the ‘Germans are different’ hypothesis, used by historians to explain the Nazis during 30s & 40s.
The hypothesis maintains that Germans have a personality defect, a readiness to obey authority, regardless of acts demanded.
Milgram wanted to find out whether ordinary Americans would obey an unjust order from authority to inflict pain on someone, and to discover what factors led people to obey.
What were the procedures in Milgram’s study?
-40 male 20-50 yrs old participants volunteered for a study of memory learning at Yale University psych department, payment $4.50.
-On arrival met by experimenter in grey lab coat, introduced to Mr Wallace - harmless looking man - really an accomplice.
-Everything was scripted except degree to which participant obeyed.
-Participant and Mr Wallace told experiment on effects of punishment on learning.
-Determined role of teacher or learner by drawing piece of paper (both pieces said teacher and participant picked first).
-Adjoining room, Mr Wallace strapped into chair, attached to electrodes which would deliver shock from generator in other room.
-Teacher given 45 volt shock to convince reality - only real shock.
-Generator displayed voltage levels and descriptions of intensity.
-Teacher to read out word pairs, ask learner correct original answer by pressing 1of 4 switches, each mistake to deliver a shock with increasing voltage each time.
-At 300 volts Mr Wallace would kick wall, after 315 stopped responding, teacher instructed to carry on.
-Experiment continued until teacher refused or if 450 volts reached and given 4 times. Then debriefed and taken to meet accomplice.
What were the findings in Milgram’s study?
-Prior to study he asked psych students to say how far they thought participants would go - estimated fewer than 3% would reach max.
-Obedience rate defined as % of those who reached 450 volts = 65%, many showed signs of extreme distress (e.g. twitching, nervous giggle.)
-3 participants had uncontrollable seizures, whenever threatened to pull out they were ‘prodded’ by experimenter with “please continue”, “the experiment requires that you continue”, “it is absolutely essential” “you have no choice, you must go on”.
What were the results of Milgram’s study?
-Every participant went to at least 300 volts.
-65% went to the ending (believing they reached 450 volts)
-Only 12.5% stopped at 300, the point where the learner first objected.
What were the conclusions of Milgram’s study?
-Research showed obedience to authority is due more to situational factors (setting) and pressure exerted on participant than to ‘deviant’ personality, contradicting the ‘German’s are different’ hypothesis.
-Suggests it is not evil people who commit evil crimes, but ordinary people who are just obeying orders.
-Under certain circumstances, most people will obey orders and go against their conscience.
What are 2 ethical limitations of Milgram’s study and how did Milgram deal with it?
Deception:
-Told they were involved in a study of effects of punishment on learning,
-Making it impossible for participants to make an informed decision before giving their consent
-Milgram argued the experiment would never have worked had he not lies and deceived the participants
-All would have displayed demand characteristics and disobeyed
-83% said they were happy to be involved and only 1.3% said they wished they had not been involved
Right to withdraw
-Informed consent gives the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time
-Milgram did not make it clear whether the participants could withdraw as the experimenter prodded the teacher to continue
-Milgram claimed the prods were apart of the experiment and this helped investigate the levels of obedience
-35% of the participants still left the study
What are 2 generic weaknesses to the study?
Lacks historical validity
-Bears no real relevance to the modern world or how people would act nowadays
-Milgram’s study cannot be used to generalise the findings to everyone due to the historical difference and individual differences
Furthermore, this type of study is no longer able to be carried out due to its ethical implications
Lacks population validity
-Only used 40 male participants which makes generalisation difficult for everyone
-Females may be less obedient than males
-Non-Americans be not obey or obey more
-Milgram used another 40 females to test their levels of obedience
-Reached the same 65% who continues to the full voltage
-Suggesting gender differences can be generalised
These findings show high levels of obedience suggesting Milgram’s original research is representative of other cultures
