Milgram (1963)

• What was the aim of Milgram's 1963 study?

  To investigate obedience to authority figures
• What hypothesis did Milgram's study investigate regarding Germans?

  That they obeyed due to blind obedience
• What type of sample was used in Milgram's study?

  Volunteer sample
• How many participants were in Milgram's study?

  40 American males
• What was the age range of participants in Milgram's study?

  20 to 50 years old
• What was the payment offered to participants in Milgram's study?

  $4.50
• What are two weaknesses of Milgram's sample?

  It is ethnocentric and androcentric
• Why might volunteers in Milgram's study share psychological traits?

  They may have similar motivations for volunteering
• Where was Milgram's experiment conducted?

  Laboratory at Yale University
• What role did the confederate play in Milgram's study?

  They acted as the learner
• What was the setup for the teacher and learner in Milgram's study?

  They drew lots to determine roles
• What was the purpose of the electric shocks in Milgram's study?

  To punish incorrect answers from the learner
• How many switches were on the shock generator?

  30 switches
• What was the maximum voltage on the shock generator?

  450V
• What did the teacher hear at 300V?

  A thump on the wall
• How did the experimenter respond if the teacher hesitated?

  Used prompts like "please continue"
• What ethical concern arose from the prompts used in Milgram's study?

  They blurred the right to withdraw
• What was a strength of Milgram's procedure?

  Standardized procedures for all participants
• What was a weakness regarding inter-rater reliability in Milgram's study?

  Only one experimenter observed behaviors
• What percentage of participants continued to the 300V shock level?

  100%
• What percentage of participants continued to the 450V shock level?

  65%
• What signs of moral strain did participants show?

  Trembling, sweating, and head in hands
• What ethical weaknesses were noted in Milgram's study?

  Use of verbal prods and stress reactions
• What was a strength of the debriefing process in Milgram's study?

  83% were glad they participated
• How does Milgram's study contribute to understanding obedience in different nations?

  It shows Germans aren't the only obedient nation
• What are the key components of Milgram's study procedure?

  • Conducted in a laboratory at Yale University
  • Teacher and learner roles established by rigged lots
  • Teacher administers shocks for incorrect answers
  • Shocks increase by 15V up to 450V
  • Experimenter prompts continuation if teacher hesitates
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Milgram's study?

  Strengths:

  • Standardized procedures
  • Debriefing showed participant satisfaction
  • Applications to reduce prejudice

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ethical concerns with stress and prompts
  • Low inter-rater reliability
  • Sample lacks generalizability