Some Classic Experiments in Social Psychology
The Milgram Experiment: demonstrated obedience to authority
The Stanford Prison Experiment: demonstrates situational attribution of behavior
The Asch Effect: demonstrated normative influence on conformity
Sherif’s Experiment on Norm Crystallization: demonstrates informational influence on conformity
The Milgram Experiment: Participants
- 40 males
- recruited through newspaper advertisements
- varying in age, occupation, education
The Milgram Experiment: Procedure
- participants led to believe that learning could be improved by punishment
- role of teacher who punished learner (a confederate) with electric shocks (15 volts to 450 volts)
- experimenter sat by the teacher, and acted like a legitimate authority figure
- whenever teacher hesitated to administer shock, the experimenter ordered them to continue
Family Influences on Obedience
- Most children from middle-class homes are encouraged to be curious, independent, question traditional values
- Children from economically-disadvantaged families are often taught to conform and obey authorities
At 300-Volt Shock Level, Psychiatrists Predicted:
less than 4% of people would still be obedient
Actual Results at 300-Volt Shock Level
87.5% were still obedient
At 450-Volt Shock Level, Psychiatrists Predicted:
0.1% would blindly obey the authority
Actual Results at 450-Volt Shock Level
65% blindly obeyed the authority
Follow-Up Milgram Studies
attempted to vary situational conditions and measured their effects on obedience
Situational Conditions that FAVORED Obedience:
- a peer administers shock (over 90% obey)
- the participant as bystanders (70% obey)
Situational Conditions that have about the SAME Rate of Obedience:
- two authorities, one as victim (about 65% obey)
- women as participants (about 65% obey)
Situational Conditions that REDUCED Obedience:
- learner demands to be shocked
- authority as victim, and ordinary man commanding
- two authorities, contradictory commands
- participants free to choose shock level
Obedience Experiment in Everyday Setting
22 nurses asked by doctor to administer a dangerous dosage of a drug to a patient
Obedience Experiment in Everyday Setting: Prediction
another 12 nurses were asked whether they would obey the order of the doctor if they were in this situation
10 said they wouldn’t
Obedience Experiment in Everyday Setting: Actual Results
21/22 nurses followed the order and attempted to administer the drug
Milgram Experiment: Take-Home Messages
what people say are not consistent with what they do
even though people say that they do not wants to hurt you, they will hurt your under situational forces
