Milgram’s Obedience Study

• What was the aim of Milgram's Obedience Study conducted in 1956?

  To test obedience to authority
• What question did Milgram seek to answer regarding American participants?

  Would Americans obey unjust orders from authority?
• How many male volunteers participated in Milgram's study?

  40 male volunteers
• How much were participants paid for their involvement in the study?

  $4.50
• What were participants told the study was about?

  A memory test with shocks for mistakes
• What was the role of the 'Teacher' in the experiment?

  The participant who administered shocks
• What was the role of the 'Learner' in the experiment?

  The confederate who received shocks
• What was the range of shock levels administered in the study?

  From 15V to 450V
• What happened to the 'Learner' during the experiment?

  The 'Learner' was strapped with electrodes
• When did the 'Teacher' stop administering shocks?

  When they refused or reached maximum voltage (450V)
• What percentage of participants reached 300V in Milgram's study?

  100%
• What percentage of participants reached the maximum voltage of 450V?

  65%
• What conclusion did Milgram draw from his study?

  People will obey authority figures even against their moral judgments
• What are the key components of Milgram's research evaluation?

  • Demand Characteristics: Participants guessed shocks were fake
  • Supporting Replications: No decrease in obedience over time
  • Unrepresentative Sample: Male-only, American sample
  • Ethical Issues: Psychological harm and deception
• Who criticized Milgram's study for demand characteristics?

  Orne & Holland (1968)
• What did Perry (2012) find regarding participants' beliefs during the experiment?

  Participants were skeptical about the shocks
• How did belief in the shocks affect participants' behavior?

  Believers were more likely to disobey
• What did Blass (1999) analyze regarding Milgram's studies?

  No decrease in obedience over time
• What did Burger (2009) find in relation to Milgram's findings?

  Obedience levels were similar to Milgram's
• What is a limitation of Milgram's sample?

  It was male-only and American
• What does Blass (1999) suggest about gender differences in obedience?

  No gender differences in replications
• What ethical concern was raised regarding psychological harm in Milgram's study?

  Participants believed they were electrocuting someone
• What ethical issue was related to deception in Milgram's study?

  Participants were misled about the aim and roles
• How did Milgram justify the ethical concerns raised in his study?

  By debriefing participants after the experiment
• What percentage of participants reported being happy to have contributed to scientific research?

  83.7%