Variations in Milgram's Research

• Situational variables vs psychological variables
• Three types of proximity conditions

  • proximity
  • touch proximity
  • remote instruction
• Proximity

  • if in the same room - 40%
  • the leader has to force learners hands-on - 30% (personal responsibility increase)
  • experimenter left the room and gave instructions - 20.5%
• How can you vary location?

  • When Milgram concluded in a rundown building rather than at Yale University obedience falls to 47.5%
• Uniform

  • in field experiment in New York, Bickman (1974)
  • had 3 confederates dressed in 3 different outfits
  • Jacket and tie/milkman and security guard uniform
  • confederate stood in the street and order people to pick up litter or give him money for the parking ticket
  • People 2x more likely to obey the assistant dressed as security guard