Obedience - Milgram

What is obedience?

Following the direct demands/instructions of an authority figure (involves an explicit instruction)

who do people obey?

to a leader/authority figure that has greater power + influence

why do people obey?

• to avoid punishment

• we accept society is organised in hierarchical way and don't mind admitting we obey ppl in authority

what is conformity?

change in behaviour or opinions because of real or imagined pressure from a group of people

who do we conform to?

We conform to a group that are our peers/ equals, it is more voluntary and involves imitation

why do we conform?

• avoid social rejection

• don't usually like to admit we conform

what did Milgram want to find out?

if individuals would obey and authority figure to the point of thinking they may have killed someone

what was milgram study?

Study where participants recruited to be "teachers" who would give electrical shocks of increasing voltage to learners every time they made a mistake.

what did Milgram find?

• found 65% of pts went to the highest shock 450v) and all pts continued to 300 volts.

• Many showed signs of extreme distress

• All pts were debriefed, assured their behaviour was normal and 84% said they were glad to have taken part in a follow-up questionnaire.