Psychology: Milgram's Obedience Study

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was NOT a reason why participants in Milgram's study felt obligated?

They had committed themselves to the study

They were being paid

They had volunteered

They were told the shocks were harmless (correct)

Milgram's study had high internal validity because participants' stress reactions proved they believed the experiment was real.

False (B)

According to Milgram, what was the central feature of the study that made it have high external validity?

The relationship between the authority figure and the teacher

The participants were not able to give __________ in Milgram's experiment due to deception.

informed consent Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors did Milgram NOT identify as affecting obedience?

Age of participants (D) Signup and view all the answers

Match the following conditions with their effect on obedience levels in Milgram's experiment:

Experimenter and teacher in the same room = Obedience dropped Run-down building = Obedience levels dropped Experimenter in a grey lab coat = Higher levels of obedience Experimenter in ordinary clothes = Obedience levels dropped Signup and view all the answers

Research from Hofling et al (1996) exploring obedience in hospitals disproves Milgram's findings.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What term did Milgram develop to explain why participants obeyed in his study?

Agency Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between conformity and obedience?

Conformity is not explicitly stated, while obedience involves following direct orders. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Milgram's study aimed to understand why so many people followed the orders of Hitler during World War II.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of sampling method did Milgram use in his obedience study?

volunteer sampling Signup and view all the answers

In Milgram's study, the dependent variable was the __________ of electric shock delivered to the ‘learner’.

voltage Signup and view all the answers

According to the study, what percentage of participants administered the maximum 450V shock?

65% (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these was NOT a factor thought to contribute to the high levels of obedience in Milgram’s study?

The learner stating they were happy to participate. (A) Signup and view all the answers

One of the conclusions of Milgram's study was that people have to be psychopaths to obey immoral orders.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Match the method with the purpose within the Milgram study:

Aim = To establish if people would obey an authority figure, even if it meant harming another Hypothesis = Participants will obey instructions from a figure of authority Results = 65% of participants administered the maximum 450V shock Conclusion = Ordinary individuals will obey orders in the right situation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Obedience: Milgram's Study

Obedience is a form of social influence where people follow direct orders.
Conformity is a form of social influence where pressure from the majority affects behavior without explicit instructions.

Milgram's Motivation

Stanley Milgram (1963) investigated why so many people followed orders from Hitler, resulting in the deaths of millions.
He wanted to understand factors contributing to obedience to authority.

Milgram's Experiment

Aims: To investigate the level of obedience to authority figures.
Type of experiment: Structured observation (no independent variable), measured obedience through the voltage of electric shocks.
Sampling: Volunteer sampling. Participants were men aged 20-50.
Hypothesis: Participants would obey an authority figure's orders even if the orders involved potentially harmful actions.
Results: Participants were obedient up to a certain point. 65% of participants delivered the maximum shock.
Conclusions: Ordinary people may obey orders from an authority figure even if the orders are harmful or immoral.
Ethical concerns: Participants were deceived about the experiment's true nature and not given full informed consent.

Factors Affecting Obedience

Proximity: Distance between the participant and the person giving orders and the person receiving the shock affected the level of obedience. Closer proximity decreased obedience.
Location: The experiment's environment affected obedience. The prestigious Yale University setting increased obedience rates compared to a different, less prestigious or a run-down location.
Uniform: The experimenter wearing a lab coat influenced obedience positively. When the uniform was replaced by more casual attire, obedience dropped. This highlights the role of authority status.

Follow-up Variations

Milgram's experiments varied the conditions, e.g., teacher/learner distance, experiment location, orders relayed by phone, and more.
Obedience decreased when the situation deviated from the baseline, e.g. when the experiment was moved to a less reputable location.

Evaluating Milgram's Study

Internal Validity: Questionable due to participants potentially guessing the true nature of the study.
External Validity: Arguably high for the specific dynamic between authority figures and those following orders.
Reliability: Research showing consistency across several replications.
Ethical Issues: Deception and potential harm to participants are significant ethical issues.
Cross-cultural validity: Replications in other cultures show high levels of obedience but usually these have occurred in western societies.

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Description

Explore the groundbreaking research by Stanley Milgram on obedience to authority. This quiz covers the motivations behind his study, the experimental design, and the surprising results that shed light on human behavior in the face of authority. Test your knowledge on this crucial psychological experiment.