situational variables SI

Question 1

situational variables

Answer 1

features of the immediate physical and social environment which may influence a person’s behaviour

Question 2

proximity

Answer 2

is the physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to

Question 3

location

Answer 3

is the place where an order is issued

Question 4

uniform

Answer 4

people in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority

Question 5

proximity findings

Answer 5

• Teacher and learner were in the same room → Obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%
• In touch proximity variation, teacher forced learners hand onto shock plate → obedience dropped to 30%
• In remote instruction variation instructions were given to teacher by phone → obedience dropped to 20.5%

Question 6

proximity findings explanations

Answer 6

decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions

Question 7

location findings

Answer 7

• Run down office block
• Obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 8

location explanation findings

Answer 8

university environment gave study legitimacy and authority

Question 9

uniform findings

Answer 9

• Grey lab coat in baseline study
• ‘Ordinary member of public’ in another → obedience dropped to 20%

Question 10

uniform findings explanations

Answer 10

uniforms ‘encourage’ obedience as they’re recognised as symbols of authority

Question 11

strengths

research support

Answer 11

other studies demonstrated the influence

• Field experiment from Bickman (1974)
• 3 confederates in different outfits
• People were twice as likely to obey the assistant dressed as a guard than the one in a suit and tie

Uniform does have a powerful effect on obedience

Question 12

limitation

low internal validity

Answer 12

participants may have been aware that it was fake
- Holland 1968
- Participants saw through deception

Demand characteristics

Question 13

strength +limitation

used in other cultures

point + clarifyer

Answer 13

Findings have been replicated in other cultures
- Meeus and **Raaijmakers **1986
- More realistic procedure with Dutch participants
- Ordered to say stressful things
- 90% obeyed
- proximity

**Milgram’s **study is not just limited to American men

Counterpoint not very cross-cultural
* Smith and **bond **1998
* Only two replications between 1968 and 1985 that took place in very different countries to america (india and jordan)

Milgram’s studies don’t apply to all cultures

Question 14

limitation

what did **mandel **argue?

Answer 14

**Mandel **1998 argues that situational explanation of obedience is an excuse for evil behaviour.
Offensive to say that Nazis were simply obeying orders