situational variables

Procedure

• The distance between the teacher and the learner/authority figure was changed (e.g. learner in same room, teacher forced learner’s hand onto shock plate).

Findings

• Obedience decreased as proximity increased.
  For example, when the learner was in the same room, obedience dropped to about 40%; when physical contact was required, it dropped to about 30%.

Explanation

• Being closer makes the consequences of actions more visible and increases empathy, making it harder to obey harmful orders.

• The experiment was moved from Yale University to a run-down office building.

P

Strength = additional research support

E

Bickman (1974): confederate in three different outfits: jacket and tie, milkman and security guard. Stood in the street and ordered people to do small task

E

People were twice as likely to obey person dressed as security guard than dressed in jacket and tie

L

So, uniform has powerful effect on obediencE

P

Strength = cross-cultural research support

E

Meeus and Raaijmakers (1986): Dutch PPs ordered to say stressful things (e.g. insults) in job interview with confederate - variation where person giving orders not present in room

E

90% of PPs continued through the whole interview. However, when person giving orders not present, obedience greatly decreased.

L

So, Milgram’s findings not just limited to American males = external validity

P

Limitation = low internal validity

E

Orne and Holland (1968): Milgram’s procedure was unrealistic- even more relevant in situational variations.

E

Milgram agreed uniform variation was contrived so pps maybe worked out truth of experiment

L

So, PPs responding to demand characteristics in all Milgram’s findings

P

Limitation = serious social connotations

E

Mandel (1998): situational variable explanation offers ‘obedience alibi’

E

Ignore the role of dispositional factors in obedience - implies Nazis were victims of situational factors beyond their control

L

So, Milgram’s focus on situational variables may be offensive to Holocaust survivors