Situational Variables Affecting Obedience

Situational variables

Features of an immediate physical and social environments, may influence a person’s behaviour

What are the situational variables Milgram investigated?

Proximity, location, uniform

Proximity

Refers to how close/far an authority figure is to the person receiving the order. When the Teacher and Learner were in the same room, obedience dropped to 40%. When the Teacher had to force the Learner’s hand onto an electroshock plate, obedience dropped to 30%. When the Experimenter gave instructions over the phone, obedience fell to 20.5%

Explanation of proximity

When proximity is decreased, allows people to psychologically distance from the consequences of their actions

Location

The place where an order is issued. The procedure at Yale University showed status and prestige. Ran the study in a run down office, obedience fell to 47.5%

Explanation of location

Yale University gave legitimacy and authority to Milgram’s study. Participants were more obedient, perceived that the Experimenter shared the legitimacy. Was quite high in the office block, participants perceived the “scientific” nature of the procedure

Uniform

Authority figures often have a uniform, symbolises their authority. In the variation, the Experimenter was called away (had a phone call) and the Experimenter was replaced with a confederate wearing plain clothes not a lab coat. Obedience rate fell to 20%

Explanation of uniform

Uniforms encourage obedience. Accept that someone in a uniform is entitled to obedience, their authority is legitimate