Social psychology- Milgram

?
  • Created by: Evie :)
  • Created on: 28-11-21 16:49
What is social psychology about?
It is interested in studying individuals in a social context (family, friends)
Psychologists believe that our behaviour is influenced by the actual or imagined presence of others
1 of 20
What is a large debate in this area of psychology?
If behaviour is influenced by personality or social context
2 of 20
What are the examples of situations effecting behaviour?
Smoking
Exercise
Crime
Obedience
3 of 20
What was the social context of the Milgram experiment?
WWII- The behaviour of the German people during the Holocaust
4 of 20
What is 'The Nuremberg Defence'
An explanation offered as an excuse for behaving in a criminal or wrongful manner, claiming that a person is following orders
This defence mechanism came from the Nuremberg trials, in which Nazi officials used to excuse their behaviour
5 of 20
What was Milgram's explanation for the WWII Holocaust
He believed that it happened because the Germans followed orders easily and thought that the Germans were a more obedient ethnic group, compared to others.
He stated that the existence of a powerful authority figure with charisma and powers of persuasion
6 of 20
What was Milgrams experiment/ Aim?
He wanted to measure how obedient people are
Aim- To investigate the process of obedience, to demonstrate the power of a legitimate authority figure even when the command requires destructive/ anti- social behaviour
7 of 20
Milgram's study Sample?
- Consisted of 40 males aged 20-50
- It was drawn from the New Haven area
- It was self selecting/ people recruited by responding to a newspaper ad and volunteering or through direct mail solicitation
- Participant were paid $4.50
8 of 20
Strengths of the sample
- Wide age range/ represents different obedience levels
- **/ people showed willing and reliability by volunteering
- $ people paid/ likely to go ahead with study if they were gaining something
9 of 20
Weaknesses of sample
- 40 people/ not largely representative of population
- Ethnocentric sampling bias (only American participants) not largely representative of obedience levels
10 of 20
What were the findings of the experiment?
(qualitative)
- Signs of nervousness (sweating, trembling, digging fingernails into flesh, nervous laughing)
- Seizures (3 participants)
One participant had a violent, uncontrollable seizure which resulted in the experiment stopping
11 of 20
Findings (quantitative)
100 % (40) of paricipants gave shocks up to 300 volts
65% of participants gave shocks up to 450 volts
- 3 had seizures
- 14 showed signs of nervous laughing
12 of 20
Conclusions of the experiment
- It took place in the prestigious Yale Uni, so obedience levels could be increased due to authority figures being present
- Participants were paid, which could have increased their sense of obligation
- People were assured the shocks were 'painful and no
13 of 20
Conclusions of the experiment
The participants thought that the roles of learner and teacher were allocated fairly, so they couldn't be biased and went along with what they were told
14 of 20
How was Milgrams study high in ecological validity?
It represents a war type scenario when soldiers were commanded to demonstrate anti-social behaviour
15 of 20
How was Milgrams study low in ecological validity?
In real life it would be rare for someone(authority figure) to command another person to give someone an electric shock, demonstrating anti-social behaviour.
16 of 20
What is mundane realism?
This refers to the extent to which the experimental situation is similar to situations people are likely to encounter outside of the laboratory
17 of 20
What is experimental realism?
This is the extent to which situations created in social psychology experiments are real and impactful to participants
18 of 20
Why is observation a good method?
Participants do not know they are being observed, reducing the risk of demand characteristics
A persons unconscious behaviour can be observed
19 of 20
Why is observation a bad method?
It can not capture someones thought process, so it is better to ask questions
An experimenter may misinterpret someones behaviour and take it the wrong way, so observations can be inaccurate
20 of 20

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is a large debate in this area of psychology?

Back

If behaviour is influenced by personality or social context

Card 3

Front

What are the examples of situations effecting behaviour?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was the social context of the Milgram experiment?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is 'The Nuremberg Defence'

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all social psychology resources »