obedience

• What is obedience in psychology?


  Carrying out a direct order from someone
• What was the aim of Milgram's 1963 study?


  To see if people obey harmful orders
• What was the maximum voltage participants were instructed to administer?


  450 volts
• How were participants assigned roles in Milgram's study?


  Through a rigged draw by a confederate
• What happened when the learner answered incorrectly?


  The teacher was instructed to give a shock
• What was the significance of the learner banging on the wall?


  It indicated distress and protested the shocks
• What percentage of participants went to the maximum shock level?


  65%
• What signs of tension did participants show during the experiment?


  They showed sweating, shaking, and nervous laughter
• What conclusion did Milgram draw from his study?


  People obey authority figures, even harmfully
• What ethical concerns were raised about Milgram's study?


  Deception and lack of informed consent
• What did Sheridan and King (1972) find in their study?


  Participants obeyed even with real shocks to a puppy
• What did Hofling et al. (1966) study demonstrate?


  Nurses obeyed a doctor's orders over the phone
• How did Rank and Jacobsen (1975) challenge Milgram's findings?


  Only 2 out of 18 nurses obeyed with familiar drugs
• What is the agentic state according to Milgram?


  A condition where a person feels controlled by others
• What is the opposite of the agentic state?


  The autonomous state, feeling responsible for actions
• What are binding factors in Milgram's explanation?


  Justifications used to continue obeying orders
• How does legitimacy of authority influence obedience?


  People obey those perceived as higher in hierarchy
• What cultural differences support the legitimacy of authority explanation?


  Obedience rates vary by cultural values of authority
• What is the authoritarian personality according to Adorno?


  A personality type that respects authority excessively
• What features characterize an authoritarian personality?


  Negative towards lower status, rigid opinions
• What did Milgram and Elms (1966) find regarding authoritarian personality?


  High F-scale scores linked to obedience in participants
• What is a limitation of the authoritarian personality explanation?


  It cannot explain all instances of obedience
• What are the situational variables affecting obedience in Milgram's study?


  • Proximity: Teacher and learner in same room (40% obedience)
  • Location: Experiment moved to a run-down office (47.5% obedience)
  • Uniform: Authority figure in ordinary clothes (20% obedience)
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Milgram's study on obedience?


  Strengths:

  • High external validity supported by Hofling's study
  • Controlled variables increase validity

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ethical concerns: deception and stress
  • Lack of internal validity in variations
• What are the explanations for obedience discussed in the study material?


  1. Situational variables: Proximity, location, uniform
  2. Social-psychological factors: Agentic state, legitimacy of authority
  3. Dispositional explanations: Authoritarian personality