Situational variables affecting obedience

Question 1

define situational variables

Answer 1

external factors which influence levels of obedience

Question 2

state the three situational variables Milgram implemented in his obedience study variations

Answer 2

1. proximity
2. location
3. uniform

Question 3

describe the variations Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of proximity

Answer 3

1. teacher and learner in the same room
2. teacher holding learners hand on the shock plate
3. experimenter gave orders to the teacher over the phone

Question 4

describe the effect that the variations of proximity had on obedience

Answer 4

1. teacher and learner in the same room- obedience dropped to 40%
2. teacher holding learners hand on the shock plate- obedience dropped to 30%
3. experimenter gives orders over the phone- obedience dropped to 20.5%

Question 5

describe the variation Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of location

Answer 5

the study was conducted in a run-down office as opposed to Yale University

Question 6

describe the effect that location had on obedience

Answer 6

when in a run-down office- obedience dropped to 47.5%

Question 7

describe the variation Milgram carried out to investigate the effect of uniform

Answer 7

the experimenter was replaced midway through the experiment with an ordinary member of public dressed in everyday clothes

Question 8

describe the effect that uniform had on obedience

Answer 8

when experimenter was replaced by someone in everyday clothes- 20%

Question 9

outline three conditions in which obedience would be maximised

Answer 9

1. the person giving orders is wearing a uniform
2. the person giving orders is within a close proximity
3. the location where the orders are being is prestigious

Question 10

explain why Mandel (1998) believes that situational variables are offensive to Holocaust survivors

Answer 10

He argues that situational variables offers an excuse or ‘alibi’ for engaging in evil behaviour- in his view it is offensive to survivors of the Holocaust to suggest the Nazis were simply obeying orders and were victims themselves of situational factors beyond their control