obedience: situational variables

• what are situational variables

  features of the physical and social environment which may influences a persons behaviour
• name the 3 situational variables that milgram studied

  -proximity

  -location

  -uniform
• DESCRIBE proximity study and explain findings

  -in proximity variation, teacher and learner were in same room

  -obedience rate dropped from 65% original to 40%

  -in touch proximity variation, the teacher had to force learners hand onto electroshock plate, obedience dropped to 30%

  -in remote instruction variation, the experimenter left room obedience reduced to 20.5%

  -decreased proximity allows ppl to psychologically distance themselves from consequences of their actions e.g when teacher and learner separated, teacher was less aware of harm caused
• describe location study and explain findings

  -milgram conducted a variation in a run-down office block rather than in prestigious yale uni, obedience fell to 47.5%

  -the prestigious uni environment gave milgrams study legitimacy and authority. so participants perceived that experimenter shared this legitimacy and that obedience was expected
• describe uniform study and findings

  -in baseline experimenter wore grey lab coat

  -in one variation experimenter was called away bc of a phone call so role of experimenter was taken over by an ordinary member of public (which was actually a confederate) in everyday clothes

  -obedience rate dropped to 20%

  -uniforms encourage obedience bc they are recognised as symbols of authority

  -someone in uniform is entitled to expect obedience as their authority is legitimate