Milgram - Shock experiment

When was the shock experiment conducted?

1963

What was the aim of the study?

To investigate obedience to authority, even when it meant harming someone

What was Milgram's original motive?

To understand how the Nazi's could permit mass extermination of the Jews

Where was the study conducted?

Yale

What was Milgram's original idea for comparison?

A cross cultural comparison

How did Milgram recruit his participants?

Through newspaper adverts

What type of sampling did Milgram use?

Volunteer sampling

How many participants were there?

40

Which gender were the participants?

Male

What was the range of ages of participants in the study?

20-50 years old

What was each participant greeted by?

An actor playing the role of an experimenter

What was the experimenter wearing?

A lab coat

What were participants told the aim of the study was?

To test the effects of punishment on learning

How much were participants paid for participation in the experiment?

$4.50

The participant and confederate drew what from a hat to determine their roles?

Slips

Was the draw rigged?

Yes

What word was written on both slips?

"Teacher"

Did the true participant choose first or second?

First

What role did the true participant play?

Teacher

What role did the confederate play?

Learner

What was the "Teacher" instructed to test?

The "learner's" memory for words

What was the "teacher" instructed to do if the "learner" got a question wrong?

Give them an electric shock

Were the "learner" and "teacher" in the same room?

No

How was the memory test conducted?

Via microphone

What was the voltage of the shock given to participants to convince them all other shocks were genuine?

45V

The experimenter instructed the teacher to do what to the voltage, after each incorrect answer?

Increase it

What was the range of shocks?

15-450 volts

Were the "learner's" responses pre-determined?

Yes

At 75 volts, how was the "learner" asked to behave?

Emit the first audible grunts of pain

At 120 volts, how was the "learner" asked to behave?

Protest louder and more insistently

At 150 volts, how was the "learner" asked to behave?

Complain about a heart condition

At around 300 volts, how was the "learner" asked to behave?

They were asked to pound on the wall and indicate distress

At 300 volts, was the "learner" verbal or non verbal?

Non verbal

At approximately 330 volts, how was the learner asked to behave?

They became silent, creating the impression they were unconscious

What was the first prod used?

"Please continue"

What was the last prod used?

"You have no other choice but to continue"

To what voltage did all participants continue to?

300V

In interviews following the experiment, how did the participants describe how they felt?

Tormented and unable to disobey orders

What % of all participants continued to the highest level of 450 Volts?

65%

How many participants stopped at 300 volts?

5 participants

How many participants stopped at 315 volts?

4 participants

How many participants stopped at 330 volts?

2 participants

What did all participants do at some point during the procedure?

Question it

14/40 participants experienced what?

Nervous smiling or laughing

What was the conclusion of the experiment?

Ordinary people are obedient to authority figures even if it means harming an individual