Milgram (Obedience)
Overview of Milgram's Study on Obedience
The title of the article: Behavioral Study of Obedience by Stanley Milgram, published in the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology in 1963.
The central theme of the study revolves around the nature of obedience to authority. Milgram’s experiment involves subjects being instructed to administer electric shocks to a learner (a confederate) as part of an experiment supposedly related to learning.
Experiment Procedure
Setting: Conducted at Yale University, thereby lending credibility to the experiment.
Participants: 40 male subjects aged 20-50 from New Haven, recruited through advertisements. They believed they were part of a study on memory and learning.
Roles: Each participant was assigned the role of a teacher, while the victim (the learner) was a confederate who feigned pain during shock administration.
Shock Generator: A simulated shock generator with 30 switches ranging from Slight Shock (15 volts) to Danger: Severe Shock (450 volts) was used. The maximum level was two steps beyond the severe level, labeled as XXX.
Commands: The subject was told to administer a shock every time the learner provided a wrong answer, with increasing voltage levels after each incorrect response.
Results of the Study
Compliance Rate: 26 out of 40 participants (65%) administered the maximum voltage shock (450 volts) despite the learner's protests, showcasing a surprising level of obedience.
Signs of Distress: Many participants exhibited extreme nervousness, sweating, stuttering, and even laughter during the procedure, demonstrating psychological stress under authority pressure.
Defiance: 14 participants refused to continue after administering high voltages, expressing moral concerns over the learner's well-being.
Misjudgments on Predictions: Prior to the study, Yale psychology students significantly underestimated the extent to which participants would obey authority, predicting that only about 1.2% would go to the maximum shock.
Discussion on Obedience
Milgram identified several factors contributing to the participants' tendency to obey authority:
Authority & Reputation: The experiment was conducted at a reputable institution, offering a perceived legitimacy and credibility to the commands given.
Purposeful Context: Subjects believed the experiment served a significant purpose in psychological research, thus feeling obliged to comply.
Obligation & Commitment: Participants felt a sense of obligation due to volunteer status and payment notion, which contributed to their willingness to continue.
Social Setting: The experiment created a closed environment where immediate pressures and lack of external support often influenced behavior.
Psychological Insights
Moral Conflict: Participants faced a dilemma between obeying authority and adhering to their own moral standards against harming another individual.
Emotional Tension: The psychological conflict manifested as visible tension and emotional strain, contradicting the expectation of a straightforward choice between compliance and disobedience.
Conclusion: The study's findings highlight the complex nature of obedience and the factors influencing individuals to comply with authority, regardless of personal moral beliefs. This experiment raised important ethical questions regarding the limits of psychological testing and the implications of obedience in society.
Key References
Adorno, T. & Others. (1950). The Authoritarian Personality. New York: Harper.
Milgram, S. (1964). Some Conditions of Obedience and Disobedience to Authority. Hum. Relat.
Case Title: Milgram's Study on Obedience
Year: 1963
Approach: Behavioral Psychology
Strengths:
Comprehensive insights into the nature of obedience.
Conducted in a reputable setting (Yale University).
Revealed significant psychological stress participants experienced under authority.
Weaknesses:
Lack of ecological validity; artificial setting may not reflect real-world scenarios.
Ethical concerns regarding the treatment of participants and deception involved.
Generalizability:
Are results likely to apply beyond the sample studied?
The sample was limited to 40 male participants from New Haven, which raises questions about generalizability to broader populations, including females and individuals from different backgrounds.
Reliability:
Will results be consistent if the study was repeated?
The study has been replicated with similar findings, indicating a reasonable level of reliability; however, variations in contexts may affect outcomes.
Applicability:
Is this study useful to everyday life?
Yes, the findings are applicable in understanding conformity and obedience in various settings, such as workplaces and military environments.
Validity:
Does the study measure what it claims to measure?
The study effectively measured obedience to authority, although external factors may influence participants’ responses in a real-world context.
Ethics:
Are there any ethical issues to consider?
Yes, ethical concerns include the psychological distress inflicted on participants and issues with informed consent due to deception.Were ethical guidelines followed?
The study faced significant criticism for not adhering to ethical guidelines in psychological research, leading to revisions in how studies involving human subjects are conducted.
Case Title: Milgram's Study on Obedience
Year: 1963
Approach: Behavioral Psychology
Name: ___ Period: _____
Aim:
To investigate the extent to which individuals will obey authority figures, even to the point of harming another individual.
Background Info:
Stanley Milgram's experiment highlights obedience to authority and was stimulated by the actions of individuals during the Holocaust. The study aimed to explore the conflict between obeying authority and personal conscience.
Research Method /Design:
IV: The level of electric shock administered (voltage levels ranging from 15 volts to 450 volts).
DV: The level of obedience shown by participants (number of shocks administered).
Sample/ Sample Method:
40 male participants aged 20-50 from New Haven, recruited through advertisements under the pretense of a study on memory and learning.
Procedure:
Participants were assigned the role of the teacher who administered shocks to a learner (a confederate) for incorrect answers. The shock levels increased with each mistake, and the experiment continued despite visible distress from the learner.
Results:
66% (26 out of 40) of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts, revealing a high level of obedience despite significant ethical concerns and distress observed in the subjects.
Picture
Key Vocabulary
Obedience
Authority
Confederate
Ethical considerations
Conclusion(s):
Milgram's study demonstrated the powerful influence of authority on human behavior, highlighting the potential for individuals to commit acts against their moral beliefs when instructed by an authority figure. This raised critical ethical questions regarding psychological research and the nature of obedience in society.
Case Title: Milgram's Study on Obedience
Year: 1963
Approach: Behavioral Psychology
Name: ___ Period: _____
Aim:
To investigate the extent to which individuals will obey authority figures, even to the point of harming another individual.
Background Info:
Stanley Milgram's experiment highlights obedience to authority and was stimulated by the actions of individuals during the Holocaust. The study aimed to explore the conflict between obeying authority and personal conscience.
Research Method /Design:
IV: The level of electric shock administered (voltage levels ranging from 15 volts to 450 volts).
DV: The level of obedience shown by participants (number of shocks administered).
Sample/ Sample Method:
40 male participants aged 20-50 from New Haven, recruited through advertisements under the pretense of a study on memory and learning.
Procedure:
Participants were assigned the role of the teacher who administered shocks to a learner (a confederate) for incorrect answers. The shock levels increased with each mistake, and the experiment continued despite visible distress from the learner.
Results:
66% (26 out of 40) of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts, revealing a high level of obedience despite significant ethical concerns and distress observed in the subjects.
Picture
Key Vocabulary
Obedience
Authority
Confederate
Ethical considerations
Conclusion(s):
Milgram's study demonstrated the powerful influence of authority on human behavior, highlighting the potential for individuals to commit acts against their moral beliefs when instructed by an authority figure. This raised critical ethical questions regarding psychological research and the nature of obedience in society.
Case Title: Milgram's Study on Obedience
Year: 1963
Approach: Behavioral Psychology
Name: ___ Period: _____
Aim:
To investigate the extent to which individuals will obey authority figures, even to the point of harming another individual.
Background Info:
Stanley Milgram's experiment highlights obedience to authority and was stimulated by the actions of individuals during the Holocaust. The study aimed to explore the conflict between obeying authority and personal conscience.
Research Method /Design:
IV: The level of electric shock administered (voltage levels ranging from 15 volts to 450 volts).
DV: The level of obedience shown by participants (number of shocks administered).
Sample/ Sample Method:
40 male participants aged 20-50 from New Haven, recruited through advertisements under the pretense of a study on memory and learning.
Procedure:
Participants were assigned the role of the teacher who administered shocks to a learner (a confederate) for incorrect answers. The shock levels increased with each mistake, and the experiment continued despite visible distress from the learner.
Results:
66% (26 out of 40) of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts, revealing a high level of obedience despite significant ethical concerns and distress observed in the subjects.
Picture
Key Vocabulary
Obedience
Authority
Confederate
Ethical considerations
Conclusion(s):
Milgram's study demonstrated the powerful influence of authority on human behavior, highlighting the potential for individuals to commit acts against their moral beliefs when instructed by an authority figure. This raised critical ethical questions regarding psychological research and the nature of obedience in society.
Case Title: Milgram's Study on Obedience
Year: 1963
Approach: Behavioral Psychology
Name: ___ Period: _____
Aim:
To investigate the extent to which individuals will obey authority figures, even to the point of harming another individual.
Background Info:
Stanley Milgram's experiment highlights obedience to authority and was stimulated by the actions of individuals during the Holocaust. The study aimed to explore the conflict between obeying authority and personal conscience.
Research Method /Design:
IV: The level of electric shock administered (voltage levels ranging from 15 volts to 450 volts).
DV: The level of obedience shown by participants (number of shocks administered).
Sample/ Sample Method:
40 male participants aged 20-50 from New Haven, recruited through advertisements under the pretense of a study on memory and learning.
Procedure:
Participants were assigned the role of the teacher who administered shocks to a learner (a confederate) for incorrect answers. The shock levels increased with each mistake, and the experiment continued despite visible distress from the learner.
Results:
66% (26 out of 40) of participants administered the maximum shock of 450 volts, revealing a high level of obedience despite significant ethical concerns and distress observed in the subjects.
Picture
Key Vocabulary
Obedience
Authority
Confederate
Ethical considerations
Conclusion(s):
Milgram's study demonstrated the powerful influence of authority on human behavior, highlighting the potential for individuals to commit acts against their moral beliefs when instructed by an authority figure. This raised critical ethical questions regarding psychological research and the nature of obedience in society.