MILGRAM

• How many participants in Milgrams study?

  40 American males

  supposedly for a study of memory
• What was the procedure of Milgrams study?

  Participants drew lots for the role. Mr Wallace was always the ‘learner’ whilst the participant was the ‘teacher’.

  An ‘experimenter’ wore a lab coat.

  The teacher had to give the learner an increasing electric shock every time they got the question wrong (from 15V to 450V)

  the shocks were fake but there were “reactions“
• what happened if the teacher wished to stop”?

  they were given a verbal prod from the experimenter to continue
• What were the key findings of Milgrams experiment?

  12.5% stopped at 300 volts

  65% continues to 450 volts (highest level)

  participants showed signs of extreme tension, three had seizures
• what did the Psychology students predict would happen?

  thought 3% would continue to 450 volts
• what conclusions can be made from Milgrams experiment?

  we obey legitimate authority even if it means out behaviour causes harm to someone else
• strength of Milgrams study

  replications have supported findings - french TV show replicated the study. 80% gave maximum voltage
• limitations of Milgrams study

  lacked internal validity - argued Ps guesses the electric shocks were fake so they were ‘play-acting’. Supported by research into Milgrams study that only half believed the shocks were real

  Ethical Issues - participants were deceived and not protected from psychological harm. To deal with this the participants were debriefed