Chapter 10 Social Psychology

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Chapter 10 Social Psychology

• Title Obey at Any Cost
• Author S. Milgram (1963).
• Presented by Kelley Reinhardt
• May 5, 2004

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Would you obey and listen at all times???

• Would you purposely shock someone if someone told
  you to do this???
• Are they crazy???

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Stanley Milgram-Yale University.

• Milgrams research on obedience and behavior has
  made its mark in psychology.
• Students may be familiar with it.
• Research methodology issues and human ethics have
  been discussed in relation to the study
  performed.
• He wanted to understand why people may hurt
  someone else if directed to do so.

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Obey equals power??

• Do people fall into a power trap where they
  forget their morals??
• Milgram wanted to re-create a situation that
  would be as realistic as possible.

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Proposition-

• Human beings tend to listen and obey those who
  have authority or a control over them.
• This may be in violation of their own beliefs,
  but regardless, they may still perform the
  undesired action to please the authority figure.

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The Method-

• Milgram created a shock generator with switches
  labeled with voltage measurements. The switches
  had classifications such as slight shock,
  moderate shock, and severe shock.
• Please keep in mind, people would not actually
  receive the shocks, it would appear that way.

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The Method-

• 40 males between 20 and 50 years of age.
• 15 skilled or unskilled.
• 16 white-collar type.
• 9 professionals.
• They would be paid a small sum regardless of what
  happened.
• Tested individually.

• Two other participants as well.
• A 47 year old confederate posing as a subject and
  an actor posing as an experimenter.

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The Method-

• Each participant was seated next to the
  confederate. The experimenter stated how the
  test was going to measure the effect punishment
  has on learning.

• The actual subject would always be the teacher.
  The fake subject would always be the learner.
  This was all a cover to the real purpose of the
  experiment.

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The Method-

• The learner was led to a room, where he was
  strapped to chair and connected to electrodes
  which were linked with the generator. The
  learner would be able to push buttons to indicate
  his answer to the teacher. The test involved
  word memorization. A shock was to be given each
  time, an incorrect answer was given.

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The Method-

• With each incorrect answer, the shock level would
  increase.
• With everything pre-arranged, the learner would
  follow the same routine for each teacher. As the
  shock level rose, so did the learners dramatic
  reactions. The teacher was ordered to continue
  no matter what.

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The Method-

• Many of the subjected learners would seek help
  from the experimenter on whether or not to
  continue.
• Commands were given to continue at different
  levels.
• Obedience measures were recorded by the shock
  level each time a subject wanted to stop.
• If a subject continued, they were obedient
  subjects. If they stopped, they were defiant
  subjects.

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The Results-

• What happened??
• A group of Yale seniors were asked about the
  study and what they thought might happen. It was
  averaged to be about 1.2 of the people would
  allow the shock to be very high.
• The subjects each continued to the 300 level,
  which is an intense shock. About 65 continued
  to follow orders and proceeded to reach the top
  of the scale. Even with mixed feelings, they
  continued.

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What would the aftermath be??

• After the experiment, the subjects were explained
  to the purpose of the study and told of the
  cover. Basically, everything came into the
  open.

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The Discussion-

• First- The subjects had a great strength to
  completely obey. The obedience level was clearly
  evident in the reactions of the subjects.
• Second- The subjects displayed tense and anxious
  feelings during the procedure. Yet this did not
  create hesitation among some subjects.

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The Discussion-Subjects point of view

• Yale University-I am in good hands here.
• The experiment seems relevant and I chose to
  volunteer.
• The learner volunteered as well, he has an
  obligation.

• It is a coincidence, I happen to pick out the
  teacher.
• I am getting money for this- I better do it!!
• The shocks will be painful, but not dangerous.

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The Importance-

• Milgram performed this on other subjects(types)
  later on. Similar results existed.
• Related experiments were done to demonstrate
  conditions that may promote or give limitations
  on obedience.
• A physical or emotional distance between the
  teacher and learner could have an effect.
• The distance between the experimenter and the
  teacher affected the level of obedience.
• A subject never chose to shock a learner very
  high-Thank goodness!!!

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Critique-

• Ethical treatment- How would one feel if asked to
  do this??
• Baumrind, (1964 Miller, 1986). Stress was
  pertinent reaction to participating in the
  experiment, which could be everlasting. Once,
  the truth was revealed,chances are the subjects
  were angry, confused and would display signs of
  distrust.
• How valid were the results?? Obedience in the
  lab did not necessarily be of real life.
• Milgram retaliated by interviewing his subjects.
  The majority were pleased to have participated.
  There were no long term, psychological effects
  either.

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Milgram quotes-

• A person who comes to the laboratory is an
  active, choosing adult, capable of accepting or
  rejecting the prescriptions for action addressed
  to him (Milgram, 1964, p.852).

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Further Applications-

• Blass (1999)- supported Milgrams findings, rates
  have not changed, no gender differences. Further
  stated personality and belief systems can predict
  obedience.
• Herrera (1997)- deception is needed.
• Kagel ( 1998)- discussed how deception is used in
  many situations.
• Wendler (1996)- deception and a higher level of
  informed consent.

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