Social: Milgram's Study Into Obedience (1966) Flashcards
(31 cards)
Aim of Milgram’s baseline study?
How obed P’s would be to following orders of authority figure that would go against their moral code and harm another person.
Sample of Milgram’s baseline study?
Volunteer sample: 40 M’s between 20-50 from New Haven. Jobs ranged from unskilled to professional.
Where was the baseline study conducted?
Yale Uni in an Interaction Laboratory (authority setting)
How much were P’s offered for taking part?
$4.50 to take part in the study of memory (what they were told).
Procedure of the study?
- P’s met experimenter and another ‘volunteer’ (Mr Wallace).
- Drew rigged lots (both said teacher).
- Watched Mr Wallace placed in e-chair, with electrodes on arms with conductive gel applied.
- P receives 45v shock sample.
- P shown shock generator.
- P instructed to increase shock by 15v each time a question was answered incorrectly.
- Learner complained about his heart and demanded to be let out, refusing to continue.
- 300v, learner pounded on the wall. Repeated this until 315v level then went silent.
- Researcher used standardised verbal prods, and experiment ended at 450v (or until P refused to continue - P given right to withdraw. ).
What was the experimenter wearing?
Smat grey lab coat (shows authority)
Why was conductive gel applied to Mr Wallace? (quote)
“To prevent any burns or blisters.”
What did the experimenter say about the shocks?
“Although they will be painful, they cause no permanent tissue damage.”
What was written on the shock generator?
30 swithces:
- Increassed in 15v increments - labelled 15 (slight shock) to 450 (DANGER - severe shock).
- Last two switches said “XXX.”
Could the teacher see the learner?
No, but could hear him clearly through the wall.
What did the learner shout out after being shocked?
- 75, 95 and 105v = *grunts*.
- 120v = “Shocks are getting painful.”
- 150v = “Get me out of here, I refuse to go on!”
Were P’s given the right to withdraw?
Yes, but verbal prods from the experimenter made It hard for the P to withdraw.
What verbal prods were used by the experimenter?
- “Please continue.”
- “The experiment requires you to continue.”
- “It’s absolutely essential that you continue.”
- “You have no other choice but to continue.”
What were the results of Milgram’s baseline study?
- All went to atleast 300v.
- 65% to 450v.
- Signs of moral strain, e.g. trembling, nervous laughter, groaning, uncontrollable seizures.
Were the P’s debriefed after the study?
Yes: Reunited with Mr Wallace, reassured behaviour was normal and told aims.
What were the conclusions of Milgram’s baseline study?
Shows the power of authority over behaviour. Even when P’s were clearly upset by what they had to do, they saw no alternative except to obey.
Aim of variation 7?
See if proximity of experimenter affect ovedience - communicated over telephone.
What was the sample of variation 7?
Same as baseline
What was the procedure for variation 7?
Same as the baseline but contacted the teacher by phone rather than being in the room.
What were the results of variation 7?
- Obedience fell to 22.5%.
- Some tried to give lower shocks than they were told to give as they thought they weren’t being observed (tried to lie).
Conclusions from variation 7?
Easier to disobey when the experimenter wasn’t in the room. Proximity is important.
Aim of variation 10?
See if obedience is affected by location; rundown office block not Yale.
What was the sample of variation 10?
The same as the baseline.
What was the procedure of variation 10?
The same as the baseline apart from taking place in a rundown office block in Bridgeport.
