Milgram on Obedience
Background and Aims
Background
Issue of obedience particularly high after ww2
Explanations were sought for the inhumane obedience of Germans especially during the holocaust
Aims
Investigate the process of obedience; to demonstrate the power if a legitimate authority even when a command requires destructive behaviour.
Method
Design
Controlled observation in laboratory using self-report NOT an experiment there is no independant variable
Sample
self-selected sample of 40 men from various occupational and educational backgrounds
Confederates: biology teacher in lab coat as experimenter, learner (or victim) played by 47-year-old and trained for role.
Materials/ apparatus
shock generator
Milgram on Obedience
Background and Aims
Background
Issue of obedience particularly high after ww2
Explanations were sought for the inhumane obedience of Germans especially during the holocaust
Aims
Investigate the process of obedience; to demonstrate the power if a legitimate authority even when a command requires destructive behaviour.
Method
Design
Controlled observation in laboratory using self-report NOT an experiment there is no independant variable
Sample
self-selected sample of 40 men from various occupational and educational backgrounds
Confederates: biology teacher in lab coat as experimenter, learner (or victim) played by 47-year-old and trained for role.
Materials/ apparatus
shock generator