Milgram Obedience Flashcards

Obedience

• Obedience involves complying with orders from an authority figure, distinct from mere compliance, which may occur without personal agreement.

Milgram's Belief

• Extreme obedience is not individualistic; Milgram posited it aligns with group behavior, exemplified by Nazi atrocities during WWII.

Study Aim

• The study aimed to investigate whether U.S. citizens in the 1960s could be compelled to deliver lethal electric shocks to another person under instruction.

Methodology

• Employed a laboratory experiment, supplemented by questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation.

Study Design

• No specific design was followed; primarily qualitative observations were utilized.

Independent and Dependent Variables

• Independent Variable: No distinct IV; some suggest the command to obey may suffice.
• Dependent Variable: The maximum shock level participants administered before refusal.

Sample Collection Technique

• Utilized a volunteer/self-selecting sampling method.

Sample Collection Process

• Participants were recruited via a newspaper advertisement seeking subjects for a study on "learning and memory," offering a compensation of $4.50.

Participant Demographics

• Comprised 40 males aged 20-50, representing a diverse array of occupations and educational backgrounds, from elementary school to doctorate levels.

Advantages of the Sample

• Broader target population compared to a typical student sample.
• Diverse demographics in age, occupation, and educational background enhanced the study's validity.

Disadvantages of the Sample

• Potential lack of representativeness for the general population.
• Limited to those who read the particular newspaper.
• Volunteer biases might affect characteristics of respondents.
• Participants who did not respond to the advertisement were excluded, potentially skewing results.

Experimenter Description

• The experimenter was a 31-year-old actor portraying a high school biology teacher, dressed in a grey technicians coat to reinforce authority.

Experimenter's Role

• Actively prompted participants to continue administering shocks when they hesitated or expressed reluctance.

Stooge Description

• The stooge, presenting as a participant, was actually an actor—a 47-year-old accountant trained to simulate the victim's responses.

Stooge Deception Techniques

• Random assignment to roles was staged; the stooge always acted as the learner.
• The stooge's connection to the shock apparatus appeared genuine, reinforcing the setup's authenticity.
• The stooge claimed to have a heart condition, adding to the ethical dilemma.
• Reactions from the stooge were scripted to sound realistic, creating a compelling scenario.

Advantages of Using a Stooge

• Maintained participant naïveté regarding the study's true purpose.
• Influenced participant behavior through modeled responses.
• Essential for achieving the study's aims without revealing deception beforehand.

Deception Control Measures

• Advertised study as focusing on "learning and memory" rather than obedience.
• Both the stooge and the experimenter were not as they seemed.
• Role assignment appeared random but was controlled to maintain the illusion.
• The apparatus was designed to ensure safety while simulating real shocks.
• The stooge's responses were deliberately made to sound painful.

Apparatus Design

• Featured a shock generator with switches, each increasing by 15 volts.
• Switches labeled from slight shock (15v) to XXX (450v), indicating extreme intensity.

Purpose of the Apparatus

• Even though the shock generator was not functional, its realistic appearance served to test moral conflict and obedience without actual harm.
• Camouflaged the true aim of the study to prevent participants from questioning the ethicality of their actions.

This quiz focuses on the concepts of obedience as explored in Milgram's 1963 experiments. It defines obedience and discusses Milgram's views on extreme obedience in the context of historical events such as WWII. Test your knowledge of these psychological principles with these flashcards.