Obedience: Situational variables

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  • Created by: Gottowork
  • Created on: 15-05-16 12:31
Milgram identified factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by participants. What were they?
Proximity, location and uniform
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What is proximity?
The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to. Also closeness of teacher to learner
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What is location in the context of Milgram's variations?
The place where an order is issued, and the status and prestige associated with the location
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What is uniform in this context of Milgram's variations?
People in positions of authority usually have an outfit symbolic of their authority, e.g. police officer. This indicates who expects obedience
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What happened in Milgram's proximity variation?
When teacher and learner in same room, obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%. In touch proximity condition, obedience rate dropped further to 30%. Instructions over phone made rate drop to 20.5%
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What happened in Milgram's location variation?
From university of Yale to run-down office, so less prestigious. Obedience fell to 47.5%
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What happened in Milgram's uniform variation?
Ordinary member of the public wearing everyday clothes rather than grey lab coat - obedience rate dropped to 20%
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What research support is there for Milgram's variations?
Bickman's field experiment in New York City - three confederates, one milkman, one security guard, one jacket and tie. Pick up litter or give confederate coin - twice as likely to obey security guard than jacket and tie. Supports uniform authority
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Why is there a lack of internal validity for Milgram's variations?
Orne and Holland - even more manipulation in variations, e.g. member of public - so contrived that maybe easy to work out truth. Unclear whether it was DC or genuine obedience
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How do Milgram's variations have cross-cultural replications?
Replicated in other cultures - e.g. Miranda et al. found obedience rate of over 90% in Spanish students - not limited to American males, valid across cultures and apply to females too. However, developed societies - may not apply everywhere
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is proximity?

Back

The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to. Also closeness of teacher to learner

Card 3

Front

What is location in the context of Milgram's variations?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is uniform in this context of Milgram's variations?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What happened in Milgram's proximity variation?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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