factors affecting obedience

• The series of obedience experiments by Milgram showed that their are various situational factors that either increased or decreased levels of obedience or dissent
• Momentum of compliance 


  Starting with small requests the teacher is committed to the experiment so when the requests increased the participants felt complied to continue
• Proximity


  The closer the authority figure the higher the level of obedience. Distance seemed to act as a buffer to obedience as found in the telephonic instruction condition. Proximity of the victim also acted as a buffer as the closer the learner to the teacher the lower the obedience.
• Status of authority


  Obedience could only be established when the authority figure was perceived to be legitimate as seen in the ordinary man condition.
• Personal responsibility

  Participant would be more obedient in a situation where personal responsibility is removed and placed onto an authority figure. When personal responsibility was removed obedience fell to 40%.
• Rotter (1966)


  Locus of control personality theory. Dissenting individuals take more of the blame and obedient individuals are more likely to displace blame.
• Internal locus of control

  People who believe they are responsible for their own action and are less influenced by others
• External locus of control


  People who believe that their behaviour is largely beyond their control but due to external factors such as fate and are more influenced by others around them
• Those with an authoritarian personality are more likely to typically obey authority figures and are less likely to challenge authority but are harsh to those they see as subordinate to themselves.
• Burger 2009

  Found that people who score high on empathy were more likely to protest against giving shocks but this did not translate to lower levels of obedience.
• Dambrun and Vatine (2010)

  Conducted a simulation of Milgram's experiment and found that authoritarianism is linked to obedience. Those with a high authoritarian score were less likely to withdraw.
• Milgram did one of his variations using just women to see the effect of gender on obedience. He found the level of obedience to be equal (65%).
• Sheridan and King (1972)


  Did a replication of Milgram's study using puppies as victims using real shocks. They found all 13 of the female participants were more compliant than men.
• Kilham and Mann (1974)

  Replicated Milgram in Australia and found that females were less obedient (16%) than males (40%).
• Cultures affect on obedience

  Behaviour can vary across cultures. Cultures can be individualistic or collectivistic.
• Individualistic cultures


  Behave more independently and resist conformity and compliance (UK and USA)
• Collectivistic cultures


  Behave as a collective group, cooperation and compliance us important for the stability of the group (China and Israel)
• Collectivistic culture - Edwards et al (1969) 


  Replication of Milgram. Found that obedience rate in South Africa was 87.5%.
• Individualistic culture - Kilham et Mann (1974)


  Replication of Milgram. Found the obedience rate in Australia was 28%.