Milgram Experiment Overview
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Questions and Answers

What was the background of the Milgram experiment?

The background of the experiment involved researching justifications for acts of genocide because of World War II and the Holocaust.

What psychology was investigated in the Milgram experiment?

The obedience of participants.

Define Agentic State.

A state of mind where a person allows others to direct their behaviors and shift responsibility for the consequences.

What does Autonomous State refer to?

<p>A state where a person decides and takes responsibility for their own actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of the Milgram study?

<p>To research how far people would go in obeying instructions that involved harming another person.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the participant details of the Milgram study?

<p>All participants were white men from the same area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the sampling method used in the Milgram study?

<p>Volunteers who responded to a newspaper article.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How was the experiment designed?

<p>Milgram varied the basic procedure to identify factors affecting obedience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the key procedures of the Milgram study?

<p>Volunteers were recruited, assigned roles, separated, and instructed to shock a learner for incorrect answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of the Milgram study?

<p>65% of participants continued to the highest level of 450 volts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What conclusions did Milgram reach from his study?

<p>People obey instructions from authority figures even to harm others, indicating socialization to follow immoral orders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a situational hypothesis according to Milgram?

<p>A theory suggesting that anyone in similar situations to those Germans would have behaved the same way.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the dispositional hypothesis in relation to Milgram's experiment.

<p>It suggests that observed behavior is caused by internal traits rather than situational factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The IV of the Milgram experiment was the ______.

<p>prods given by the researcher.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The DV of the Milgram experiment was the ______.

<p>level of obedience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the strengths of the Milgram study?

<p>High level of control and replicability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Agentic State

The state of mind where an individual defers responsibility to an authority figure, allowing them to act without personal accountability.

Obedience to Authority

Describes the tendency for individuals to obey authority figures, even when instructed to harm others, highlighting the power of social influence.

Autonomous State

The mental state where an individual acts independently, deciding for themselves and taking responsibility for their actions.

Level of Obedience

The extent to which participants in the Milgram experiment followed the researcher's instructions, even if they involved harming the learner, highlighting the influence of authority.

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Prods

The set of instructions given by the researcher in the Milgram experiment to encourage participants to continue delivering shocks, demonstrating the power of persuasion.

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Situational Hypothesis

The hypothesis that suggests our behavior is influenced by the specific situation we are in, particularly when it involves authority figures.

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Dispositional Hypothesis

The hypothesis that suggests our behavior is driven by internal factors, like our personality or beliefs, rather than external situational factors.

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Independent Variable (IV)

The factor that the researcher manipulates in the Milgram experiment, specifically the different prods used to influence participant behavior.

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Dependent Variable (DV)

The aspect that is measured in the Milgram experiment, specifically the maximum voltage level participants were willing to administer to the learner.

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High Control

The fact that the Milgram experiment was conducted in a controlled environment, allowing for replication of results, and providing a better understanding of the influence of authority.

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Replicability

The ability to repeat the Milgram experiment under similar conditions to confirm the original findings, highlighting the reliability of the study.

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Homogeneity

The extent of similarity between different participants in the Milgram experiment, particularly in terms of demographics, which could potentially limit the generalizability of the findings.

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Self-Selecting Sample

The method used to select participants in the Milgram experiment, where volunteers responded to a newspaper advertisement, potentially introducing a bias in the sample.

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Procedure Variation

The systematic variation of the procedures in the Milgram experiment, altering elements like the prods used, to identify factors that influence obedience.

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Groupthink

The idea that people are more likely to be willing to conform to the actions of others when they are part of a larger group.

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Social Influence

The concept that the actions of individuals are influenced by the social expectations and norms of the group they belong to.

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Study Notes

Background of the Milgram Experiment

  • Aimed to investigate justifications for acts of genocide, notably regarding WWII and the Holocaust.

Psychology Investigated

  • Focused on obedience of participants, examining how far individuals would go when instructed by authority.

Agentic State

  • A mental state where individuals defer responsibility to authority figures, allowing them to direct actions without personal accountability.

Autonomous State

  • Represents self-direction and taking responsibility for one's actions, contrasting with the agentic state.

Aim of the Milgram Study

  • Explored the extent to which people are willing to obey harmful instructions from authority figures, questioning the ease of committing atrocities.

Participant Details

  • Study included only white male participants, all from the same geographical area.

Sampling Method

  • Participants were volunteers responding to a newspaper article, indicating a self-selecting sample.

Experiment Design

  • Varied the procedure to identify factors influencing obedience, measuring responses based on maximum voltage levels administered (65% shocked to 450 volts).

Procedures of the Milgram Study

  • Volunteers assigned roles through random selection.
  • Participants operated in separate rooms; "Teacher" administered shocks to "Learner" for wrong answers.
  • Four standardized prods were used to encourage continued participation.

Results

  • 65% of participants progressed to the maximum shock level of 450 volts, and all went up to at least 300 volts.

Conclusions

  • People are likely to obey authority figures, even when instructed to harm others, reflecting socialization to follow immoral orders.

Situational Hypothesis

  • Suggests individuals behave according to their situational context, implying that anyone under similar pressures could comply with harmful commands.

Dispositional Hypothesis

  • Attributes behavior to internal traits rather than situational factors, indicating a lack of respect for authority as a cause of disobedience.

Independent Variable (IV)

  • The different "prods" given by the researcher influenced participant behavior.

Dependent Variable (DV)

  • Level of obedience was measured based on the maximum voltage participants were willing to administer.

Strengths of the Milgram Study

  • High control over extraneous variables due to laboratory setting, leading to replicability of results under standardized conditions.

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Description

This quiz covers the background and psychological aspects investigated in the Milgram experiment. It explores the motivations behind the study and the significant findings regarding obedience and authority. Test your knowledge on one of psychology's most famous experiments!

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