Situational variables

• What does PUL stand for?

  P - proximity

  U - uniform

  L - location
• Proximity variation


  When teacher and learner are in the same room

  Obedience dropped from 65% to 40%
• Touch proximity variation


  Teacher forces learner's hand onto electric shock plate

  Obedience dropped to 30%
• Remote instruction variation


  Experimenter leaves room and gives the instructions via the telephone

  Obedience dropped to 20.5%
• Uniform


  Confederate in everyday clothes

  Obedience dropped to 20% - the lowest of all variations

  Uniforms are recognised symbols of authority
• Location


  Run down office block rather than in a prestigious university (Yale)

  Obedience dropped to 47.5%