Clever Grades

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Psychology: Obedience to Authority

Milgram's Study Outline

1

AIM

investigate how far individuals would obey an authority figure when instructed to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience.
2

METHOD & DESIGN

Milgram used a laboratory experiment to control conditions. Controlled, structured procedure with a standardized protocol.
3

SAMPLE

40 male volunteers aged between 20 and 50 from a range of occupational backgrounds in the New Haven area, USA.
4

PROCEDURE KEY

Participant (Teacher) administered shocks to the learner (confederate) on wrong answers, increasing voltage each time.
5

CONCLUSION

Ordinary people are likely to obey authority figures to an extreme extent, even when it conflicts with their personal morals.

Key Terminology

⚡

Shock Generator

Apparatus with switches labelled from 15 volts (slight shock) to 450 volts (danger: severe shock).
🧠

Obedience

Compliance with authority pressure despite personal conflict.
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Confederate

The 'learner' who gave set responses and, at higher shock levels, pretended to be in pain.
🏛️

Authority Figure

The experimenter who ordered the participant to continue regardless of their protests.

Core Obedience Result

65% (26 out of 40)
Percentage of participants who administered the maximum 450-volt shock, demonstrating extreme obedience.

Methodological & Ethical Issues

✅
StrengthHigh internal validity through standardized procedure.
❌
Weakness/Ethical ConcernLow ecological validity due to artificial setting. Potential psychological harm due to deception and participant distress.

Context and Relevance

Relation to Social Psychology

Milgram’s study demonstrates the power of situational factors (authority presence) influencing behaviour, a major theme in social psychology. It helps explain social phenomena such as obedience in harmful contexts, including historical events like the Holocaust.

Comparison to Core Studies

🤔
How does this link to Piliavin's work on helping behaviour?
🦉
Milgram focuses on obedience rather than altruism or prosocial behaviour, showing how authority can override personal values.

Methodology Improvements

💡

Generalizability Constraint: The sample was all male and from one geographic area, limiting generalizability to other genders and cultures. The study could benefit from greater diversity in participants.

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Milgram’s 1963 Obedience Study
Q
Main Aim of Milgram’s 1963 Study

What was the main aim of Milgram’s 1963 study?

A
Answer

To investigate how far individuals would obey authority when asked to perform acts conflicting with their conscience.

Q
Research Method

What research method did Milgram use?

A
Answer

A laboratory experiment with controlled conditions.

Q
Sample

Describe the sample used in Milgram’s study.

A
Answer

40 male volunteers aged 20-50 from New Haven, USA, self-selected through ads.

Q
Apparatus

What apparatus was central to Milgram’s experiment?

A
Answer

A shock generator labeled from 15 volts to 450 volts for simulated electric shocks.

Q
Assigned Roles

What roles were assigned to participants and confederates?

A
Answer

Participant was the "teacher," and the confederate was the "learner."

Q
Max Shock Voltage

What percentage of participants delivered the maximum 450 volts shock?

A
Answer

65% (26 out of 40 participants).

Q
Procedure

What was the key procedure for administering shocks?

A
Answer

The teacher gave shocks for wrong answers, increasing voltage each time, while an authority figure ordered continuation.

Q
Participant Stress

What signs of stress did participants show?

A
Answer

Sweating, nervousness, trembling, and discomfort.

Q
Conclusion

What conclusion did Milgram draw about obedience?

A
Answer

Ordinary people obey authority to extreme levels even against personal morals.

Q
Ethical Concerns

What ethical concerns are associated with Milgram’s study?

A
Answer

Deception and potential psychological harm to participants.

Q
Importance

Why is Milgram’s study important in social psychology?

A
Answer

It demonstrates the influence of situational factors and authority on behaviour.

Q
Limitations

What limitations did Milgram’s study have regarding sample and validity?

A
Answer

Limited to males from one area, and low ecological validity due to artificial setting.

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🧠 Milgram Obedience Study Quiz

1. What percentage of participants administered the maximum 450-volt shock?

Milgram found that 65% of participants delivered the highest shock level, showing high obedience despite moral conflict.

2. What was the role of the participant in the experiment?

Participants were always in the role of “teacher,” administering shocks for wrong answers.

3. Which ethical issue is most associated with Milgram’s study?

Participants were deceived about the nature of the shocks, leading to distress.

4. What type of study design did Milgram use?

The study was conducted in a controlled lab setting with standardized procedures.

5. True or False: All participants stopped administering shocks before reaching 300 volts.

All participants continued to at least 300 volts, showing strong obedience.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Psychology
  • A Level
  • Research Methods
  • OCR