Political Psychology: Citizen Behaviors and Opinions Lecture 2 Obedience to authority

Program Variants of the Milgram experiment Explanation of obedience Milgram, 50 years later

Variants of the Milgram experiment Lecture 2 Obedience to authority

Experiment #2

Prediction of psychiatrists: mean maximum shock = 120 volts 0,125% will go up to 450 volts

Experiment #2 Results : mean maximum shock = 375 volts 25/40 (63%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #11 Choice of shock level mean maximum shock = 75 volts 1/40 (3%) administer 450 volts

Experiment #11

Experiment #8 Women mean maximum shock = 375 volts 26/40 (65%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #5 Yale basement, less luxurious mean maximum shock = 375 volts 26/40 (65%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #10 Private run-down building mean maximum shock = 315 volts 19/40 (48%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #3 Victim in the same room mean maximum shock = 315 volts 16/40 (40%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #4 Contact with the victim mean maximum shock = 270 volts 12/40 (30%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #7 Distance of experimenter mean maximum shock = 270 volts 9/40 (21%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #12 Learner demands shocks mean maximum shock = 150 volts 0/40 (0%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #13

Ordinary experimenter mean maximum shock = 240 volts 4/40 (20%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #14

Ordinary experimenter, scientist victim mean maximum shock = 150 volts 0/40 (0%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #15

Conflict between 2 experimenters mean maximum shock = 150 volts 0/40 (0%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #16

Two scientists: one is the victim, one is the experimenter mean maximum shock = 360 volts 13/20 (65%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #17

Division of tasks: revolt mean maximum shock = 240 volts 4/40 (10%) go up to 450 volts

Experiment #18

Division of tasks: conformity mean maximum shock = 405 volts 37/40 (93%) go up to 450 volts

Explanation of obedience Lecture 2 Obedience to authority

Two modes Individual mode Organizational mode (agentic state)

Factors that favor obedience Antecedent conditions – Family – Institutional setting – Rewards Immediate conditions – Perception of authority – Entry into the authority system – Link between command and function – Overarching ideology

Agentic state Properties and consequences – Tuning – Redefined meaning of the situation – Loss of responsibility – Deactivation of self-image Binding factors – Sequential nature of the action – Situational obligations – Anxiety

Milgram, 50 years later Lecture 2 Obedience to authority

Milgram, 50 years later A product of a particular era (1960s) and a particular country (USA)? The equivalent of a genocide? Ethics committees

The US, after Milgram 9 studies, 1967 to 1976 Average obedience rate: 61% ABC news, 2007: 65%

The world, after Milgram 9 studies, 1968 to 1985 Australia (40%), Austria (80%), England (50%), India (43%), Italy (85%), Jordan (63%), South Africa (88%), Spain (50%), and West Germany (85%). French film, 2010: 81%

The world, after Milgram

Like a genocide? Minus the propaganda, minus the threat of coercion. Extra close supervision. Subsidiary task.