OBEDIENCE: SITUATIONAL VARIABLES

• Proximity (closeness of teacher and learner)

  In the baseline study, the teacher could hear the learner but not see him. 

  1. Proximity variation - the teacher and learner were in the same room = obedience rate dropped from 65% to 40%.
  2. Touch-proximity variation - the teacher forced the learner’s hand onto a shock plate = obedience rater was 30%.
  3. Remote-instruction variation - the experimenter left the room and gave instructions by telephone = obedience rate was 20.5% and participants often pretended to give shocks. 
• Proximity 


  Decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions. 

  E.G when the teacher and learner were physically separated, the teacher was less aware of the harm done, so was obedient. 
• Location (prestige of setting) 


  The study was conducted in a run-down building rather than at the prestigious Yale University (as in the baseline).

  Obedience dropped to 47.5%.

  Obedience was higher in the university because the setting was legitimate and had authority (obedience was expected).
• Uniform (communicates authority) 


  In the baseline study, the experimenter wore a grey lab coat. 

  In one variation, he was called away by an ‘inconvenient’ phone call at the start of the procedure. His role was taken over by an ‘ordinary member of the public’ in everyday clothes. 

  Obedience fell to 20%, the lowest of the variations. 

  A uniform is a strong symbol of legitimate authority granted by society. Someone without a uniform has less right to expect obedience.