SI - Milgram Shock study

• What did Milgram's study aim to test regarding authority figures?


  It aimed to test why ordinary people obey orders from authority figures, even to the point of causing harm.
• What percentage of participants in Milgram's study were willing to administer potentially deadly electric shocks?


  65%
• What was the initial hypothesis of psychologists regarding obedience in Milgram's study?


  They believed only a few percent of likely psychotic individuals would obey such orders.
• What were the key components of Milgram's original obedience experiment?


  • Participants believed they were in a memory study.
  • They were assigned roles of teacher and learner.
  • Electric shocks were administered for wrong answers.
  • The authority figure was a scientist in a lab coat.
• What roles were assigned to the real participant and the Confederate in Milgram's experiment?


  The real participant was always the teacher, and the Confederate was the learner.
• What did participants hear when they administered electric shocks to the learner?


  They heard the learner cry out in pain and plead to stop.
• How did Milgram's experiment demonstrate the concept of an agentic state?


  Participants carried out orders without feeling personal responsibility or guilt.
• What is the opposite of the agentic state according to Milgram?


  The opposite state is called the autonomous state.
• What factors contribute to the legitimacy of authority in Milgram's study?


  • Socialization teaches respect for authority figures.
  • Uniforms serve as visible symbols of authority.
  • The setting influences perceived legitimacy.
• How did Milgram vary the proximity of the authority figure in his experiments?


  He had the authority figure give instructions through a telephone instead of being in the same room.
• What was the effect of changing the location of the experiment from Yale University to a rundown office block?

  Obedience dropped from 65% to 47.5%.
• What was the impact of changing the authority figure's uniform on obedience rates?


  Obedience dropped to 20% when the authority figure was in plain clothes.
• What are some criticisms of Milgram's research methodology?


  • Lacks mundane realism and ecological validity.
  • Task was unrealistic compared to everyday situations.
  • Gender bias due to all-male samples.
• What alternative explanation for obedience did Adorno propose?


  He suggested that individuals with an authoritarian personality are more capable of extreme obedience.
• What are the strengths of Milgram's experimental methodology?


  • High level of control due to standardized procedures.
  • Results are reliable across different countries and time periods.
  • Clear instructions allowed for replication of the study.
• What does Adorno suggest about obedience in relation to personality types?


  He suggests that people with an authoritarian personality are capable of extreme obedience.
• What methodological strength is associated with Milgram's experiment?


  His use of standardized procedures led to a high level of control.
• How have Milgram's results been shown to be reliable?


  They have been replicated across different countries and time periods.
• What ethical criticisms are associated with Milgram's study?


  Participants suffered emotional distress and were deceived about the study's nature.
• What is a counterargument to the ethical criticisms of Milgram's study?


  Some argue that the harm was justified due to the significant impact of the findings.
• What are the key findings of Hofling's study regarding obedience in nurses?


  • 21 out of 22 nurses complied with an order to give a dangerous dose of medication.
  • The order was given over the phone by someone posing as a doctor.
  • This suggests high obedience even in a more realistic setting.
• How does Bickman's study support Milgram's theory of authority?


  Bickman found that people were more likely to obey when the experimenter wore a guard uniform compared to other outfits.
• What were the findings of Sheridan and King's study on obedience?


  • Participants delivered real electric shocks to a puppy.
  • 54% of male participants shocked the puppy to the maximum level.
  • 100% of female participants shocked the puppy to the maximum level.
• What does Adorno's theory suggest about the authoritarian personality?


  It suggests that individuals with an authoritarian personality are more likely to obey authority figures.
• How is the authoritarian personality formed according to Adorno?


  It is formed early in life due to harsh upbringing and physical punishments.
• What does the F scale measure?


  The F scale measures authoritarian personality traits.
• What are two factors measured by the F scale?


  Authoritarian submission and power and toughness.
• What is a criticism of the F scale questionnaire?


  It may suffer from acquiescence bias, leading to inflated scores.
• What is a limitation of using the authoritarian personality to explain obedience?


  It oversimplifies complex historical events into personality flaws.
• How does Adorno's theory differ from Milgram's regarding obedience?


  Adorno focuses on dispositional factors, while Milgram emphasizes situational factors.
• What did Elms and Milgram's study find regarding obedient participants?


  Obedient participants scored higher on the F scale, indicating more authoritarian traits.
• What is a potential issue with correlational studies on authoritarian personality?


  They cannot establish causation due to the nature of the data.
• What do situational explanations of obedience emphasize?


  They emphasize the influence of context and authority on obedience levels.
• How does the research on situational factors challenge the authoritarian personality theory?


  It shows that obedience can occur in various contexts, not just due to personality traits.
• What are the implications of the findings from Milgram's and related studies on obedience?


  • Many people have the capacity to be obedient under certain conditions.
  • Authority figures and situational contexts significantly influence obedience.
  • Understanding these factors can help address issues of compliance in society.