Social Influence Obedience to Authority

1
Social Influence Obedience to Authority
Evaluation of Stanley Milgrams Experiment

• Lesson Objectives
• 1) To look at variations of the obedience
  experiment
• 2) To evaluate the key study of obedience
• Stanley Milgram (1963)
• Methodological considerations
• Ethical Considerations

2
Conformity Vs Obedience

• Starter
• Read through the statements and sort them.
• They will either be conformity or obedience
• Create two columns

Conformity
Obedience
3
RecapStanley Milgram (1963)Obedience to
Authority
Working around the room, each say one piece of
information about the aim, procedure, findings,
conclusions of the study. Why did Milgram want
to research this? How was the sample
selected? Who were involved? (confederates) Where
did it take place? Who had the authority? What
equipment was used?
4
Variations (to test different factors)

• In the original study
• 100 of participants went to 300 volts
• 65 went to the full 450 volts
• The experiment has been carried out with
  variations to test different factors on obeying
  authority.
• You will find out about one variation (pages
  157-158) and report the impact that it had to the
  rest of the group.

5
Variations - feedback
Location moved to a run down office
(48) Experimenter gives orders over the phone
(21)
Proximity of the Victim Proximity of the authority Figure Presence of allies
Increasing the participants discretion Gender Differences Cultural Differences
6
EvaluationMethodological Issues

• 1) Why was the sample used unrepresentative?
• 2) What are the problems with using a lab exp?
• Validity
• Experimental Realism
• Demand characteristics
• Orne and Holland claim that participants were
  role playing
• Mundane Realism
• Unique context not a real environment

• Bickman (1974)
• Pedestrians in New York
• Asked to pick up a bag from the floor
• Guard/milkman/ wearing a sports jacket

Holfing et al. (1966) Nurses obeying a doctor
These studies are in a real environment
7
EvaluationEthical Issues
Deception
Informed Consent
Right to Withdraw
Protection from physical psychological harm
Debriefing
Confidentiality Privacy

• On the sheet consider the ethical issues and
  write down why these were a problem in Milgrams
  research.
• Extension
• Complete a cost-benefit analysis of this research

8
Plenary

• We have considered many of the criticisms of this
  study.
• On a post-it note, write down one thing
• What can we learn about people from this
  experiment?
• What does it tell us about obedience?
• How has psychology benefitted from this study?
• What factors make people obey?

9
HOMEWORK due Wed 24th Feb

• Practice exam paper (Social Psychology)
• Complete questions 5 (a), (b), 6 and 7
• For question 7 you will need to use pg 155 to
  help you