Milgram

• Background

  Obedience is the psychological mechanism that links individual action to political purpose.

  According to Milgram (1992) obedience involves the "abdication of individual judgement in the face of some external pressure".
• Background- Agency Theory:

  When given extreme commands by legitimate authority figures, subordinates adopt an agentic state where they become the instrument for carrying out another person's wishes.

  The opposite of the agentic state is the autonomous state.
• Background- the "Germans are Different" theory

  It was believed by some that German society created a population who were more likely than most to obey authority, due to strict discipline within families.
• Aim

  To investigate the process of obedience by testing how far an individual will go in obeying an authority figure, even when the command breaches the moral code that an individual should not hurt another person against his will.
• Sample

  • 40 male participants aged between 20 and 50 years, from the New Haven area.
  • They were obtained by a newspaper advertisement and direct mail solicitation. These asked participants to take part in a study of memory and learning (fake aim 1) at Yale University.
  • A wide range of occupations- office and postal workers
  • $4.50 for simply presenting themselves at the laboratory.
• Sample

  Prior to the study, 14 Yale seniors were provided with a detailed description of the study and asked to predict the behaviour of 100 hypothetical participants.

  Estimates for obedience levels ranged from 1-3% (mean= 1.2%).
• Research Method

  • It was a controlled observation as no independent variable was manipulated.
  • It took place in a laboratory at Yale University so conditions could be controlled (eg who was the teacher/learner, standardised prods).
  • Data was gathered through observations made by both the experimenter who was in the same room as the participant and others behind a one-way mirror.
  • Sessions were recorded on a magnetic tape, occasional photographs were taken and notes were made on unusual behaviours.
• Procedure

  1. On arrival at Yale, participants were greeted by a stern looking experimenter in a white lab coat called Jack Williams (always same confederate). The second fake aim (effect of punishment on learning) was given.
  2. The participants were always given the same role of teacher in a fixed lottery. Here, they met the learner (a confederate named Mr Wallace who was mild-mannered).
  3. Mr Wallace was strapped into a chair with non-active electrodes attached to his arms. The teachers were given a trial shock of 45 volts to stimulate genuineness.
• Procedure

  4. The teacher was brought into an adjacent room to conduct a paired word test, where wrong answers meant electric shocks of increasing intensity.

  5. The machine had 30 switches ranging from 15 to 450 volts in 15 volt increments.

  6. The learner produced a set of predetermined responses giving approximately 3 wrong answers for every correct one. At 300 volts he pounded on the wall. This was repeated after 315 volts. He then fell silent and stopped answering questions.
• Procedure

  7. If the teacher turned to the experimenter for advice on whether to proceed, the experimenter responded with a series of standardised prods.

  8. At the end of the study (when the teacher disobeys/ 450v is reached) , the participant was fully debriefed. They were introduced to the learner. Obedient participants were told their behaviour was normal.

  9. Milgram also had independent psychiatrists interview the participants a year later. No long term psychological effects were observed.
• The standardised prods:

  1. " Please continue " or " Please go on "
  2. " The experiment requires that you continue "
  3. " It is absolutely essential that you continue "
  4. " You have no other choice; you must go on "
• Results- Quantitative Data

  Predictions: Considerable agreement between 14 Yale seniors that an insignificant minority would go through to the end of the shock series (mean 1.2%).

  Actual Trials: 100% (40/40) participants continued to 300 volts and 65% (26/40) obedient to 450 volts.
• Results- Qualitative Data

  Many participants showed signs of extreme stress whilst administering the shocks:

  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Stuttering
  • Laughing Nervously
  • 3 had full- blown, uncontrollable seizures
• Results- Qualitative Data

  On completion of the test, many obedient participants heaved sighs of relief, mopped their brows or nervously fumbled cigarettes. Some shook their head, apparently in regret. Some remained calm throughout.
• Explanations of Obedience

  Milgram offered 13 explanations, including:

  • The study was carried out in a prestigious university (Yale), influencing participants as to the worthiness of the study and the competence of the researcher.
• Explanations of Obedience

  Milgram offered 13 explanations, including:

  • The participants were told the shocks were not harmful
• Explanations of Obedience

  Milgram offered 13 explanations, including:

  • The situation was completely new for the participants, so they had no past experience to guide their behaviour... (the authority figure/ experimenter is the guide)
• Result- 100% of participants administered a 300v shock to the learner


  Conclusion- Inhumane acts can be done by ordinary people
• Result- 65% of participants administered a 450v shock to the learner, despite showing signs of visible distress e.g. sweating


  Conclusion- People will obey others whom they consider legitimate authority figures even if what they are asked to do goes against their moral beliefs
• Procedure

  1. Greeted by stern looking experimenter in white lab coat
  2. Given role of teacher in fixed lottery (Mr Wallace is learner)
  3. Mr Wallace strapped into chair with non-active electrodes and the 45 volt trial shock
  4. Paired word test
  5. A machine with 30 switches (15 to 450 volts in 15 volt increments)
  6. Predetermined responses. Pounded on wall at 300 volts, fell silent after 315 volts.
  7. Standardised prods
  8. Full debriefing
  9. Independent psychiatrist- no long term psychological effects
• The key theme is responses to people in authority.