Explanations for obedience can include: situational variables that can affect obedience as investigated by Milgram
• Proximity
Experimenter (researcher) being in a different room to the teacher, the physical closeness.
• Location
Change the location from the University (sense of trust and authority) to a more run down location where trust is not as
prevalent .
• Uniform
Individuals with positions w/ authority have a speci c uniform that is symbolic of their authority- able to detect et their
position in society through uniform.
UNIFORM:
Higher rates of obedience.
Original study - experimenter wore a lab coat - 65%
Variation - Role of experimenter carried out by ‘ordinary member of the public ‘( confederate) - 20%
PROXIMITY:
Original Study - 65% with teacher and learner in different rooms and experimenter in the same room as teacher.
Variation -
Proximity of victims: Teacher and learner in same room, thus teacher was able to see the reactions of the learner.
Dropped to 40%.
Touch proximity variation: the teacher was required to force the learner hand onto a shock plate. Dropped to 30%.
Experimenter leaving the room: After giving the rst instructions, experimenter left the room and gave the other
instructions over the phone. Dropped to 20.5%.
Authority gure has a lot of power on how people behave.
LOCATION:
Moved from Yale University to a run down of ce. Dropped to 47.4%.
Exam question practise (6 marks)
Identify two factors that have been shown to affect obedience to authority. Brie y discuss how each of these factors
affects obedience to authority.
The two factors that can in uence obedience to authority, are sitiuational variables, such as uniform. In the original study,
Milgram’s results showed a 65% obedience level to the maximum voltage level of 450 V, whilst the experimenter was
wearing a lab coat, having the uniform of an established researcher. However, Milgram found that when he included the
variable of changing the uniform to everyday casual clothing conformity rates dropped to only 20%, therefore showing
how signi cant uniform is in having individuals obey ones orders, even when they are physically harming someone.
Another factor that could have impacted obedience to authority is the proximity of the experimenter to the participant, as
in the original study, conformity rates were of 65% with the experimenter in the same room as the participant, and the
learner and teacher in separate room . However, obedience rates dropped to 40% when the teacher and learner in same
room, thus teacher was able to see the reactions of the learner. One would expect results of obedience to decrease a lot
more than just 20% when seeing the pain of another individual, but it just shows how fundamental the presence of an
authority gure is.
• Proximity
Experimenter (researcher) being in a different room to the teacher, the physical closeness.
• Location
Change the location from the University (sense of trust and authority) to a more run down location where trust is not as
prevalent .
• Uniform
Individuals with positions w/ authority have a speci c uniform that is symbolic of their authority- able to detect et their
position in society through uniform.
UNIFORM:
Higher rates of obedience.
Original study - experimenter wore a lab coat - 65%
Variation - Role of experimenter carried out by ‘ordinary member of the public ‘( confederate) - 20%
PROXIMITY:
Original Study - 65% with teacher and learner in different rooms and experimenter in the same room as teacher.
Variation -
Proximity of victims: Teacher and learner in same room, thus teacher was able to see the reactions of the learner.
Dropped to 40%.
Touch proximity variation: the teacher was required to force the learner hand onto a shock plate. Dropped to 30%.
Experimenter leaving the room: After giving the rst instructions, experimenter left the room and gave the other
instructions over the phone. Dropped to 20.5%.
Authority gure has a lot of power on how people behave.
LOCATION:
Moved from Yale University to a run down of ce. Dropped to 47.4%.
Exam question practise (6 marks)
Identify two factors that have been shown to affect obedience to authority. Brie y discuss how each of these factors
affects obedience to authority.
The two factors that can in uence obedience to authority, are sitiuational variables, such as uniform. In the original study,
Milgram’s results showed a 65% obedience level to the maximum voltage level of 450 V, whilst the experimenter was
wearing a lab coat, having the uniform of an established researcher. However, Milgram found that when he included the
variable of changing the uniform to everyday casual clothing conformity rates dropped to only 20%, therefore showing
how signi cant uniform is in having individuals obey ones orders, even when they are physically harming someone.
Another factor that could have impacted obedience to authority is the proximity of the experimenter to the participant, as
in the original study, conformity rates were of 65% with the experimenter in the same room as the participant, and the
learner and teacher in separate room . However, obedience rates dropped to 40% when the teacher and learner in same
room, thus teacher was able to see the reactions of the learner. One would expect results of obedience to decrease a lot
more than just 20% when seeing the pain of another individual, but it just shows how fundamental the presence of an
authority gure is.
