Explain how both normative and informational social influence worked to convince Stanley Milgram's participants to deliver powerful shocks to a hapless learner

Question

How did replications of the original study demonstrate the role of normative and informational influence?
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: The experimenter wore the mantle of scientific authority in the original study. It is likely that normative influence operated when participants feared that they would anger, hurt, or disappoint the experimenter when they refused. In a variation of the original study, when two confederates refused to continue (at 150 volts and 210 volts, respectively) despite the experimenter's stern instructions, participants also decided to resist. Informational influence was also operating. Odds are that the experimental situation was novel and confusing to participants, so they relied on the experimenter's behavior to help them define the situation. Because he did not seem concerned about the learner, participants became convinced that they were not doing anything too harmful, so they obeyed. In a variation of the original study, the experimenter did not insist on escalating shocks, and left the room. When a confederate (allegedly a fellow participant) suggested the original procedures, participants refused to administer severe shocks. This suggests that participants were less likely to use a "nonexpert" to help them define the situation.