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Chapter 10 Social Psychology

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Chapter 10 Social Psychology Title: Obey at Any Cost Author: S. Milgram (1963). Presented by Kelley Reinhardt May 5, 2004 Would you obey and listen at all times??? – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Chapter 10 Social Psychology


1
Chapter 10 Social Psychology
  • Title Obey at Any Cost
  • Author S. Milgram (1963).
  • Presented by Kelley Reinhardt
  • May 5, 2004

2
Would you obey and listen at all times???
  • Would you purposely shock someone if someone told
    you to do this???
  • Are they crazy???

3
Stanley Milgram-Yale University.
  • Milgrams research on obedience and behavior has
    made its mark in psychology.
  • Students may be familiar with it.
  • Research methodology issues and human ethics have
    been discussed in relation to the study
    performed.
  • He wanted to understand why people may hurt
    someone else if directed to do so.

4
Obey equals power??
  • Do people fall into a power trap where they
    forget their morals??
  • Milgram wanted to re-create a situation that
    would be as realistic as possible.

5
Proposition-
  • Human beings tend to listen and obey those who
    have authority or a control over them.
  • This may be in violation of their own beliefs,
    but regardless, they may still perform the
    undesired action to please the authority figure.

6
The Method-
  • Milgram created a shock generator with switches
    labeled with voltage measurements. The switches
    had classifications such as slight shock,
    moderate shock, and severe shock.
  • Please keep in mind, people would not actually
    receive the shocks, it would appear that way.

7
The Method-
  • 40 males between 20 and 50 years of age.
  • 15 skilled or unskilled.
  • 16 white-collar type.
  • 9 professionals.
  • They would be paid a small sum regardless of what
    happened.
  • Tested individually.
  • Two other participants as well.
  • A 47 year old confederate posing as a subject and
    an actor posing as an experimenter.

8
The Method-
  • Each participant was seated next to the
    confederate. The experimenter stated how the
    test was going to measure the effect punishment
    has on learning.
  • The actual subject would always be the teacher.
    The fake subject would always be the learner.
    This was all a cover to the real purpose of the
    experiment.

9
The Method-
  • The learner was led to a room, where he was
    strapped to chair and connected to electrodes
    which were linked with the generator. The
    learner would be able to push buttons to indicate
    his answer to the teacher. The test involved
    word memorization. A shock was to be given each
    time, an incorrect answer was given.

10
The Method-
  • With each incorrect answer, the shock level would
    increase.
  • With everything pre-arranged, the learner would
    follow the same routine for each teacher. As the
    shock level rose, so did the learners dramatic
    reactions. The teacher was ordered to continue
    no matter what.

11
The Method-
  • Many of the subjected learners would seek help
    from the experimenter on whether or not to
    continue.
  • Commands were given to continue at different
    levels.
  • Obedience measures were recorded by the shock
    level each time a subject wanted to stop.
  • If a subject continued, they were obedient
    subjects. If they stopped, they were defiant
    subjects.

12
The Results-
  • What happened??
  • A group of Yale seniors were asked about the
    study and what they thought might happen. It was
    averaged to be about 1.2 of the people would
    allow the shock to be very high.
  • The subjects each continued to the 300 level,
    which is an intense shock. About 65 continued
    to follow orders and proceeded to reach the top
    of the scale. Even with mixed feelings, they
    continued.

13
What would the aftermath be??
  • After the experiment, the subjects were explained
    to the purpose of the study and told of the
    cover. Basically, everything came into the
    open.

14
The Discussion-
  • First- The subjects had a great strength to
    completely obey. The obedience level was clearly
    evident in the reactions of the subjects.
  • Second- The subjects displayed tense and anxious
    feelings during the procedure. Yet this did not
    create hesitation among some subjects.

15
The Discussion-Subjects point of view
  • Yale University-I am in good hands here.
  • The experiment seems relevant and I chose to
    volunteer.
  • The learner volunteered as well, he has an
    obligation.
  • It is a coincidence, I happen to pick out the
    teacher.
  • I am getting money for this- I better do it!!
  • The shocks will be painful, but not dangerous.

16
The Importance-
  • Milgram performed this on other subjects(types)
    later on. Similar results existed.
  • Related experiments were done to demonstrate
    conditions that may promote or give limitations
    on obedience.
  • A physical or emotional distance between the
    teacher and learner could have an effect.
  • The distance between the experimenter and the
    teacher affected the level of obedience.
  • A subject never chose to shock a learner very
    high-Thank goodness!!!

17
Critique-
  • Ethical treatment- How would one feel if asked to
    do this??
  • Baumrind, (1964 Miller, 1986). Stress was
    pertinent reaction to participating in the
    experiment, which could be everlasting. Once,
    the truth was revealed,chances are the subjects
    were angry, confused and would display signs of
    distrust.
  • How valid were the results?? Obedience in the
    lab did not necessarily be of real life.
  • Milgram retaliated by interviewing his subjects.
    The majority were pleased to have participated.
    There were no long term, psychological effects
    either.

18
Milgram quotes-
  • A person who comes to the laboratory is an
    active, choosing adult, capable of accepting or
    rejecting the prescriptions for action addressed
    to him (Milgram, 1964, p.852).

19
Further Applications-
  • Blass (1999)- supported Milgrams findings, rates
    have not changed, no gender differences. Further
    stated personality and belief systems can predict
    obedience.
  • Herrera (1997)- deception is needed.
  • Kagel ( 1998)- discussed how deception is used in
    many situations.
  • Wendler (1996)- deception and a higher level of
    informed consent.

20
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