Situational Variables Affecting Obedience

Question 1

Strength: RTS situational variables

Answer 1

Bickman, confederates dressed as security guard, milk man, Business man, asked passers by to pick up litter or pay for parking, ppts twice as likely to obey orders of security guard, supports power of uniform

Question 2

Weakness: gender bias

Answer 2

Milgram’s research has gender bias, male only sample, difficult to generalise findings to females, some studies suggest females may have obeyed more regardless of variables, gender roles dictate that females are more submissive, SHERIDAN AND KINGS females shocked puppies 100%of time, males 54%, weakens external validity

Question 3

Weakness: alternative explanation

Answer 3

dispositional factors, authoritarian personality, obedience is due to internal characteristics rather than situational factors, obedience may not just be due external factors, weakens research as not sole explanation