Situational variables

• Variations of Milgram's original experiment: Location

  The location changed from the prestigious setting of Yale university to a rundown office above a shop. % decreased from 65% to 47.5%. The status of Yale increased the legitimacy of the experiment.
• Variations of Milgram's original experiment: Uniform

  Role of the experimenter taken over by a confederate playing an 'ordinary member of the public' wearing everyday clothing instead of a lab coat. % decreased from 65% to 20%. Removing the experimenter's uniform reduced the authority of the experimenter.
• Variations of Milgram's original experiment: Increased proximity

  Teacher and learner in the same room, so the teacher can see them and hear them. % decreased from 65% to 40%. Being able to see the pain someone is experiencing increases responsibility felt by the teacher.
• Variations of Milgram's original experiment: reduce proximity

  Experimenter left the room and gave instructions to the teacher by telephone. % decreased from 65% to 20.5%. Reduced proximity made the teacher feel less pressure to obey and could behave as they wanted to- some participants actually only pretended to give the shocks or gave weaker ones than they were ordered to.
• Variations of Milgram's original experiment: physical force

  Teacher had to force the learner's hand onto the shock plate to receive electric shock if he did not voluntary place it on. % decreased from 65% to 30%. Physically inflicting the pain on the learner- felt more responsible for pain.