Social Influence: Milgram’s study of obedience (AO1)

Question 1

Define ‘obedience’.

Answer 1

A type of social influence whereby one person follows the orders of another. The person giving the orders is usually an authority figure. The orders are direct.

Question 2

What was the aim of Milgram’s (1963) experiment?

Answer 2

To test the ‘Germans are different’ hypothesis that claimed Germans were highly obedient.

Question 3

What was the sample of Milgram’s (1963) experiment?

Answer 3

40 American men between 20 and 50 years old.

Question 4

How was the sample acquired?

Answer 4

Participants responded to an advert (volunteer sampling).

Question 5

How much were participants paid to take part?

Answer 5

$4.50

Question 6

Where did Milgram (1963) take place?

Answer 6

Yale University.

Question 7

Who was present in the setup?

Answer 7

The teacher (genuine participant), the learner (confederate - Mr Wallace), and the experimenter (confederate - Mr William).

Question 8

How were the roles of teacher and learner allocated?

Answer 8

The participant and confederate (Mr Wallace) drew slips from a hat to determine their roles. The participant was always first to draw a slip. However, the drawing was rigged, as both slips contained the word ‘Teacher’. This meant that the participant was always the teacher, and the confederate (Mr Wallace) was always the learner.

Question 9

How was the participant made to think that the electric shocks were genuine?

Answer 9

The participant was given a small, but real, electric shock before the experiment began.

Question 10

What did participants have to do?

Answer 10

Each time the learner gave an incorrect answer, the participant had to administer an electric shock. The shocks ranged from 15V to a maximum of 450V. Shocks increased in 15V increments with each incorrect answer.

Question 11

How were the reactions of the learner standardised?

Answer 11

The reactions of the learner were pre-recorded, and always fell silent at 330V.

Question 12

What would happen if the participant was hesitant or did not want to carry on with the procedure?

Answer 12

The experimenter gave verbal prods to the participant to encourage them to continue. For example, “the experiment requires you to continue” and “you have no choice, you must go on”.

Question 13

What were the results of Milgram’s (1963) experiment?

Answer 13

65% of participants (26/40) administered shocks to 450V, and no participant stopped below 300V. Many participants showed signs of distress, such as twitching, sweating, laughing nervously, and verbally attacking the experimenter. 3 participants even had seizures. However, some participants showed little distress.

Question 14

What was the conclusion of Milgram (1963)?

Answer 14

People will obey authority, even if it goes against their conscience and causes moral strain. They can lose empathy, compassion, and morality. This can help to explain the horrific acts from the Second World War.

Question 15

What were the variables tested for in Milgram’s variations?

Answer 15

Proximity, location, and uniform

Question 16

How were the reactions of the learner standardised?

Answer 16

The reactions of the learner were pre-recorded, and always fell silent at 330V.

Question 17

What happened if the participant was hesitant or did not want to continue with the experiment?

Answer 17

The experimenter gave verbal prods to the participant to encourage them to continue. For example, ‘the experiment requires you to continue’, or ‘you have no choice, you must go on’.

Question 18

What were the results?

Answer 18

65% of participants (26/40) administered shocks to 450V. No participant stopped below 300V.

Many participants showed signs of distress, such as twitching, sweating, laughing nervously, and verbally attacking the experimenter. 3 participants even had seizures. However, some participants showed little distress.

Question 19

What was the conclusion?

Answer 19

People will obey authority, even if it goes against their conscience and causes moral strain. They can lose empathy, compassion, and morality. This can help to explain the horrific acts of the Second World War.

Question 20

Which variables did the variations of Milgram test for?

Answer 20

Proximity, location, and uniform.

Question 21

How did Milgram test for the effect of proximity on obedience?

Answer 21

1. The teacher and learner were in the same room.
2. The teacher forced the learner’s hand onto the shock plate.
3. The experimenter gave instructions to the teacher over the phone.

Question 22

What was the effect of the teacher and learner being in the same room on obedience?

Answer 22

Obedience dropped to 40%.

Question 23

What was the effect of the teacher forcing the learner’s hand onto the shock plate on obedience?

Answer 23

Obedience dropped to 30%.

Question 24

What was the effect of the experimenter giving instructions to the teacher over the phone on obedience?

Answer 24

Obedience dropped to 20.5%.

Question 25

How did **Milgram** test for the effect of location on obedience?

Answer 25

The experiment took place in a run-down building instead of at Yale.

Question 26

What was the effect of the experiment taking place in a run-down building on obedience?

Answer 26

Obedience dropped to **48%**.

Question 27

How did **Milgram** test for the effect of uniform on obedience?

Answer 27

The experimenter (in a grey lab coat) was replaced with a confederate, who wore everyday clothes.

Question 28

What was the effect of a plain-clothed confederate giving instructions on obedience?

Answer 28

Obedience dropped to **21%**.

Question 29

Describe the procedure of **Bickman (1974)**.

Answer 29

Covert field experiment which took place in New York City. Confederates stood on the streets and asked members of the public to perform a small task, such as picking up a piece of litter or providing a coin for a parking meter. The outfit of the confederate varied between a regular smart suit, a milkman uniform, and a security guard uniform.

Question 30

What were the results of **Bickman (1974)**?

Answer 30

**76%** of participants obeyed the security guard. **47%** of participants obeyed the milkman. **30%** of participants obeyed the smart suit.

Question 31

What other variations of **Milgram** were there?

Answer 31

1. Support was given by two other (disobedient) teachers. 2. The teacher made someone else administer the electric shocks.

Question 32

What was the effect of the presence of two other (disobedient) teachers on obedience?

Answer 32

Obedience dropped to only **10%**.

Question 33

What was the effect of getting someone else to administer the electric shocks on obedience?

Answer 33

Obedience rose to **92.5%**.