Psychology - Unit 2 - Conformity

Millgram's study

Aim - To see if participants would obey an unjust order from an authority figure.

Method - Participants told they were part of a learning study

- Learner and teacher roles were given

- Participant (teacher) had to administer shocks to incorrect answers given

Findings - All participants went to 300 volts or more!

Evaluations -

X Lacks ecological validity

X Harm to participants

X Artificial lab study

- Down town office - 49% conformity

- Forced hand - 30% conformity

- Disobedient confederate - 20% conformity

- Obedient confederate - 93% conformity

- Individualization -> Point out - people like to be individual

- Maintain control -> People like to be in control

- Prior commitment -> Public e.g. referees

- Time to think and find social support -> More time to think and find support -> less likely to conform.

e.g. Titanic & lucitania-> the Titanic took a long time to sink, therefore a more organised approach was taken.