Milgram (obedience)

Procedure
1. Lab experiment
2. 40 males volunteered to take part on the study of how punishment affects learning
3. Participants were the 'teacher' and the 'learner' was a confederate
4. Instructed to deliver electric shocks if the learner got a question wrong
5. The shocks increased by 15V each time, up to 450V
Results
1. All participants went to 300V
2. 65% went all the way to 450V
Variations
1. Experimenter gives instructions over the phone
2. In a run down office
3. Removing buffers
Evaluation
1. Internal validity
  1. Orne and Holland - people have learned to distrust experimenters because they know the real aim is likely to be disguised. So in Milgram's study, Ps must have known they were not giving electric shocks
2. Deception and lack of informed consent
  1. Participants were unaware of the real purpose, and therefore denied the right to give informed consent
3. Protection from harm
  1. Milgram placed Ps under great emotional strain, causing them psychological harm.
    1. Milgram argued that interviews after the study found no evidence of harm
Explanations of obedience
1. Gradual commitment
2. Legitimate authority
3. Buffers

Resource summary

	Created by eharveyhudl about 9 years ago