Milgrams obedience study
Summary militant found that most people would administer potentially lethal levels of shock to another human being, just because they were told to do so by an authority figure
Summary
Milgram found that most people would administer potentially lethal levels of shock
to another human being, just because they were told to do so by an authority figure.
The use of experimental procedure enabled Milgram to explore different aspects of
the situation that influence the extent to which people will obey authority.
2 Key factors in obedience are the presence of a clear authority figure, & the
distance between the person administering the shock and the ‘Victim’ (pg.76)
Milgram
Was one of the most innovative & productive social psychologists of his generation.
Undertook a variety of studies that explored social psychological aspects of everyday
life.
However largely remembered for one dramatic piece of work = The obedience
studies.
2.1 The set up
1961 – Milgram study began
Conducted at Yale University in the USA
Local paper asking for volunteers to take part in a study on memory. =
offering a fee plus expenses, paid on arrival at the laboratory.
Volunteers greeted by experimenter, and the 2 volunteers introduced to
one another – (S M. C)
Experimenter explains details of the study = (one volunteer taking on
role as ‘teacher’ & other as the ‘learner’
‘Teacher’ will engage ‘learner in a simple memory task.
‘Learner’ & ‘Teacher’ Will be in separate rooms communicating through
microphones.
Experimenter reveals the study is designed to investigate the effect of
punishment on learning.
‘Teacher’ asked to administer an electric shock to the ‘Learner’ every
time the ‘Learner’ makes an incorrect response on the memory task.
Draw slips of paper to determine who will be the ‘Teacher’ & who will be
the ‘Learner’ (S M. C)
‘Learner’ then strapped into a chair. (In view of ‘Teacher’)
(pg.67)
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