Psychology of Obedience and Authority

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Questions and Answers

What motivated Stanley Milgram to conduct his obedience experiments?

To study the effects of punishment on children.

To understand the mass murder during the Holocaust. (correct)

To test the efficacy of psychological treatment methods.

To explore psychological disorders in advanced civilizations.

Which of the following best describes the main finding of Milgram's Obedience Experiment?

Most participants refused to obey the authority figure.

Participants showed no emotional response to the act.

Participants were more compliant when in groups.

Participants administered shocks with increasing intensity to others. (correct)

Which ethical concern is primarily associated with the Milgram Experiment?

The misleading nature of the job advertisement.

The lack of informed consent from participants.

The omission of a control group in the study.

The potential for psychological harm to the participants. (correct)

Hannah Arendt's concept of 'the banality of evil' suggests what about perpetrators of atrocities?

They may act out of a desire to please authority figures. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary method of participant recruitment for Milgram's experiment?

Job advertisements in local newspapers. Signup and view all the answers

Which social factor plays a crucial role in influencing obedience, as seen in Milgram's study?

The authority figure's perceived legitimacy. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Milgram's experiments, what psychological phenomenon explains participants' willingness to obey authority?

Social identity theory. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the confederate in Milgram's obedience experiment?

To impersonate a distressed participant receiving shocks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect on obedience when the authority figure is perceived as legitimate and close by?

Obedience increases significantly Signup and view all the answers

How did obedience change when participants were asked to perform a lesser role in the Milgram experiments?

Obedience increased significantly to 93% Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about the role of proximity in the Milgram experiment?

Obedience decreases when the authority figure is out of sight Signup and view all the answers

What was a common response about the ethical nature of the Milgram experiments?

Most found it enriching and informative Signup and view all the answers

How does the identification with the victim influence obedience in the Milgram experiments?

People are less likely to obey if they identify with the victim Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the presence of another authoritative figure have on the participants' obedience levels?

Obedience dropped to zero Signup and view all the answers

What factor had the greatest influence in lowering levels of obedience during the Milgram studies?

The authority figure's absence Signup and view all the answers

How did authoritarian personality traits affect obedience in the Milgram experiments?

Authoritarian individuals were more likely to obey Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role assigned to the naïve participant in the Milgram experiment?

Teacher Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contributed to the high levels of obedience demonstrated in the Milgram experiment?

Transfer of responsibility to the experimenter Signup and view all the answers

What ethical concern is highlighted by the Milgram experiment?

Insufficient regard for the psychological state of participants Signup and view all the answers

How did social identity theory relate to the behavior of participants in the Milgram experiment?

Participants identified with the experiment and experimenter Signup and view all the answers

What was the maximum voltage level on the shock generator used in the Milgram experiment?

450 volts Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence obedience according to the findings of the Milgram experiment?

Socioeconomic status of participants Signup and view all the answers

At which voltage level did the learner first express significant discomfort during the Milgram experiment?

75 volts Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of authority figures enhanced obedience in participants during the Milgram experiment?

Perceived legitimacy and consistency Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Remoteness of the Victim

Obedience increased significantly when the "learner" was out of sight.
When the teacher and learner were in the same room, obedience decreased to 40%.
Direct physical contact by pressing the learner's hand onto a shock plate reduced obedience to 30%.

Closeness and Legitimacy of the Authority Figure

Obedience peaked when the authority figure was present and regarded as legitimate.
Obedience plummeted to 20% when the authority figure communicated only via phone or when an ordinary participant gave orders.
When the experimenter suggested stopping but the learner wished to continue, obedience fell to 0%.
In scenarios where two experimenters debated, obedience also dropped to 0% (Reicher & Haslam, 2017).

Diffusion of Responsibility

When a second person administered shocks, participant compliance rose to 93%.
Personal responsibility resulted in drastic obedience reduction to 0%, especially when shocking close relatives (Perry, 2011).
Group dynamics significantly influenced obedience; if other teachers chose not to continue, the compliance rate decreased to 10%.

Characteristics of the Teacher

Gender did not influence obedience; women obeyed as much as men (cf. Perry, 2011).
Individuals with authoritarian traits were more inclined to obey (Elms & Milgram, 1966).
Identification with the victim correlated with reduced obedience levels.

Ethics of the Experiments

Ethical concerns raised regarding the execution of such experiments.
More than 50% of participants reported experiencing discomfort.
Milgram argued that no participants suffered lasting psychological damage.
Several participants perceived the experience as enriching and educative, with only 1.3% regretting participation.

New Studies

Utilized virtual reality to simulate Milgram's experiment, demonstrating similar obedience trends (Slater et al., 2006).
Immersive realism incorporated trained actors as participants (Haslam et al., 2015).
In Burger's study (2009), 80% of participants who reached 150 volts in the original studies escalated to 450 volts.
Findings reinforce consistency with the original Milgram studies.

Theoretical Implications

Studies illustrate the presence of obedience and disobedience; individuals do not unflinchingly adhere to orders.
Eichmann's case exemplified the dangers of blind obedience to authority, framed by Hannah Arendt's concept of the "banality of evil."
Ordinary individuals can inflict harm under the influence of authoritative figures, reflecting a complex interplay of responsibility and identity (Reicher & Haslam, 2017).

Historical Context

Milgram's experiments conducted in the 1960s were influenced by the atrocities of World War II.
The trial of Adolf Eichmann exemplified the shocking ordinariness of individuals participating in the Holocaust, raising questions about moral responsibility under authority.

Overview of Milgram’s Experiment

Aimed to explore how normal people could inflict harm when directed by an authority figure.
The study involved participants designated as "teachers" and a confederate as "learner" under the guise of a memory experiment.
An electric shock generator with 30 switches from 15 to 450 volts was used.
Participants faced escalating pressure as they delivered shocks, which were always perceived as painful despite assurances of safety.

Results and Influences on Obedience

65% of participants administered the maximum shock level (450 volts).
Factors explaining the high levels of obedience included perceived responsibility transfer to the experimenter, gradual punishment escalation, and social identification with the experiment (Reicher & Haslam, 2020).
Consistency, legitimacy, and authority of the experimenter significantly impacted participant behavior (Haslam et al., 2014).

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Description

This quiz explores the psychological factors affecting obedience in authority structures, based on classic experiments. Topics include the remoteness of the victim, the presence and legitimacy of the authority figure, and diffusion of responsibility. Test your understanding of these concepts and their implications in psychological research.