1.1.3 Milgram's Study of Obedience

• What is obedience in social psychology?

  Compliance with authority figures
• Obedience in social psychology is driven by social norms
• Obedience is essential for maintaining social order and achieving collective goals.
• What was Milgram's key research question in his study of obedience?

  How far do individuals obey authority?
• Milgram's study was motivated by the psychological dynamics behind obedience following the Holocaust
• What type of experimental setup did Milgram use in his study?

  Controlled experiment
• In Milgram's study, the "learner" was actually a confederate of the experimenter.
• In Milgram's study, the learner pretended to receive electric shocks and made mistakes on a memory task
• What was the role of the "learner" in Milgram's study?

  Confederate
• The "teacher" in Milgram's study was directed by an authority figure.
• Match the role in Milgram's study with its description:

  Teacher ↔️ Administers electric shocks

  Learner ↔️ Pretends to receive shocks
• The learner in Milgram's study was a confederate of the experimenter.
• The "teacher" in Milgram's study believed they were administering real shocks.
• What did the "learner" in Milgram's study pretend to do?

  Receive electric shocks
• The "teacher" in Milgram's study was aware that the "learner" was a confederate.

  False
• In Milgram's study, the "teacher" was responsible for reading word pairs to the learner.
• Match the shock level in Milgram's study with its effect:

  15 V ↔️ Mild discomfort

  300 V ↔️ Intense pain

  450 V ↔️ Unresponsive cries
• What is obedience driven by in social psychology?

  Social norms
• Milgram's research question explored the extent to which individuals obey authority figures, even when it conflicts with their morals.
• The "teacher" in Milgram's study believed they were administering real electric shocks.
• What percentage of participants in Milgram's study administered shocks up to 450 V?

  65%
• High obedience rates in Milgram's study were influenced by the presence of an authority figure.
• What was the maximum voltage used in Milgram's obedience study?

  450 volts
• In Milgram's study, 65% of participants administered shocks up to 450 volts.
• Milgram's findings suggest individuals are often willing to follow authority, even when it harms others.
• What are three factors that contributed to high obedience rates in Milgram's study?

  Authority, legitimacy, escalation
• In Milgram's study, the experimenter was perceived as an authority figure who directed participants to continue administering shocks.
• The legitimacy of authority in Milgram's study was enhanced by conducting the experiment in a prestigious university.
• How did the gradual escalation of shock intensity affect obedience in Milgram's study?

  Made refusal harder
• The experimenter's prompts, such as "Please continue," encouraged participants to override their reservations.
• Participants in Milgram's study felt pressured to obey authority, even when it conflicted with their personal morals.
• What is the ethical concern of deception in Milgram's study?

  Misled about the purpose
• Participants in Milgram's study experienced significant psychological distress, such as sweating and trembling.
• Milgram's study highlighted the need for strict ethical guidelines in psychological research.
• What is the definition of obedience in social psychology?

  Complying with authority
• Social norms, which promote respect for authority, drive obedience in hierarchies.
• Following a teacher's instructions in a classroom is an example of obedience.
• What was Milgram's primary research question after the Holocaust?

  Why do people obey authority?
• Milgram's motivation stemmed from a desire to understand the psychological dynamics behind obedience after the Holocaust.
• In Milgram's study, the teacher (participant) believed they were delivering real electric shocks.