Variations of Milgram's study

• Proximity


  The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to
• Proximity in Milgram's study

  1. Teacher and learner in adjoining rooms

  2. Teacher and learner in same room
• Obedience rate dropped to 65% when teacher and learner were in adjoining rooms, and 40% when they were in the same room
• Variations of proximity in Milgram's study


  1. Teacher forced learner's hand onto electroshock plate - obedience rate 30%

  2. Experimenter left room, gave instructions by telephone - obedience rate 20.5%

  
• Location


  The place where an order is issued, and the status or prestige associated with that location
• Location in Milgram's study

  1. Prestigious university setting (Yale) - 65% obedience

  2. Run-down office downtown - 47.5% obedience
• Uniform


  A specific outfit that is symbolic of authority, indicating who is entitled to expect obedience
• Uniform in Milgram's study

  1. Experimenter wore lab coat - 65% obedience

  2. Role of experimenter carried out by ordinary member of public - 20% obedience
• Getting someone else to do it

  Participant/teacher instructed someone else to administer shocks - 92.5% obedience
• Support


  Having support from another person can influence someone's behaviour
• Support in Milgram's study

  Teacher given support from two other 'teachers' who refused to obey - 10% obedience
• Milgram went on to do a series of experiments to try and account for the weaknesses identified in the first study, or to further investigate questions that arose

  
• 9 situational variables were identified as affecting obedience in Milgram's variations of his baseline study
• 9 situational variables affecting obedience


  • Proximity of authority figure
  • Physical proximity of learner
  • Location of the experiment
  • Legitimacy and closeness of the authority figure
  • Depersonalization of the victim
  • Role models for defiance
  • Incremental gradation of commands
  • Buffers and the gradual increase in severity
  • Lack of clear role responsibility
• Social Influence: Crash Course Psychology: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGxGDdQnC1Y&ab_channel=CrashCourse'