1. Obedience
Obedience
compliance of person is due to perceived authority of asker
request is perceived as a command
Milgram interested in unquestioning obedience to orders
This photo of Stanley Milgram was scanned in from the Myers text, NOT on the CD

2. Stanley Milgram’s Studies
Basic study procedure
teacher and learner (learner always confederate)
watch learner being strapped into chair
learner expresses concern over his “heart condition”
Photo scanned in from Gray 3e fig 14.8, NOT on CD

3. Stanley Milgram’s Studies: Procedure Continued
Teacher (S) goes to another room with experimenter
Shock generator panel – 15 to 450 volts, labels “slight shock” to “XXX”
Teacher (S) asked by Experimenter (E) to give higher shocks for every mistake Learner (A) makes
Figure adapted from Hockenbury 12.4, was on CD

4. Stanley Milgram’s Studies
Learner protests more and more as shock increases
Experimenter continues to request obedience even if teacher balks saying,
“The Experiment Requires that you continue.”
“You have no other choice, you must continue.”
120
150
300
330
“Ugh! Hey this really hurts.”
“Ugh! Experimenter! That’s all.
Get me out of here. I told you
I had heart trouble. My heart’s
starting to bother me now.”
(agonized scream) “I absolutely
refuse to answer any more.
Get me out of here. You can’t hold
me here. Get me out.”
(intense & prolonged agonized
scream) “Let me out of here.
Let me out of here. My heart’s
bothering me. Let me out,
I tell you…”
This table was adapted from Hockenbury, Table 12.3
Instructor could also tape the confederate’s responses instead of using this table

6. Obedience How many people would go to the highest shock level?
Two-Thirds (26 out of 40) of the subjects went to the end, even those that protested
Those that did stop, not one stopped before the 300-volt level.

8. Milgram’s Obedience to Authority (Data from Milgram, 1974)

9. Explanations for Milgram’s Results
Abnormal group of subjects?
Numerous replications with variety of groups shows no support
Milgram’s study has been repeated many times in the United States and other countries with identical results
People in general are sadistic?
videotapes of Milgram’s subjects show extreme distress

10. Explanations for Milgram’s Results
A previously well-established framework to obey
The situation, or context, in which the obedience occurred (Authority of Yale and value of science)
New situation and no model of how to behave
The gradual, repetitive escalation of the task
Experimenter self-assurance and acceptance of responsibility
The physical and psychological separation from the learner

11. Follow-Up Studies to Milgram
This figure is adapted from the CD version of figure 12.5 in Hockenbury

12. Conditions that Decrease the Likelihood of Destructive Obedience
Willingness to obey diminishes sharply when the buffers that separate the teacher from the learner are lessened or removed.
Obedience decreased when the experimenter left the room and spoke to the subject over the telephone rather than in person.
When teachers were allowed to act as their own authority and freely choose the shock level, 95 percent did not venture beyond 150 volts—the first point at which the learner protested
People were more likely to defy an authority when they saw others do so

13. Critiques of Milgram
Although 84% later said they were glad to have participated and fewer than 2% said they were sorry, there are still ethical issues
Do these experiments really help us understand real-world atrocities?

14. Were Milgram’s Obedience Experiments Ethical?
Attacked for the emotional stress, tension, and loss of dignity experienced by the subjects
Milgram suggested that what was disturbing to people were not so much his methods but his results
Follow-ups of Milgram’s subjects indicate that a large majority were glad to have taken part in the experiment and had no signs of harm or traumatic reaction

15. Does this Apply to Today?

16. Asch, Milgram, and the Real World
Being at odds with the majority or with authority figures is very uncomfortable for most people—
Enough so that our judgment and perceptions can be distorted and we may act in ways that violate our conscience
Each of us does have the capacity to resist group or authority pressure but…
Will we do so?