Situational Factors

• Situational factors to Obedience:

  • Proximity
  • Location
  • The Power of Uniform
• Proximity - The distance between the person giving orders and the receiver impacts levels of obedience.
• Location - The institution or place orders are being given impacts the rate of obedience.
• Power of Uniform - Uniforms cabin have a powerful impact on levels of obedience.
• Proximity research…

  • Obedience fell to 40% when teacher and learner were present in the same room.
  • Obedience fell to 30% when the teacher was required to force the learners hand onto the shock generator.
  • Obedience fell to 21% when instructions from the experiment or were given over the phone.
• Location research…

  • Some participants said the observation (Milgram) taking place at Yale University made them believe no one would truly be harmed.
  • Milgram conducted the study ion a run down office block and obedience fell to 48% delivering the 450 volt shock.
• Power of Uniform research…

  • Bushman carried out a study where a female researcher was either dressed as a police woman, business executive or beggar.
  • They found that 72% of people obeyed when in police uniform, 48% obeyed the business executive uniform and 52% obeyed when dressed as a beggar.