Location/Status of the Authority

• When (Milgram’s) obedience research was moved from the prestigious Yale University to a rundown office block in Bridgeport supposedly called ‘Research Associates Ltd.’ - obedience levels dropped significantly to 48%
• This result suggests the high status of Yale University contributed to the high levels of obedience - nevertheless, the status of science in society in general as a social institution contributed to quite high levels of obedience
• In Experiment 13 when an ordinary man is giving the instructions (someone without status) obedience levels dropped to 20%; although interestingly, most participants were willing to let the learner self-administer electric shocks