The obedience study conducted by Stanley Milgram has become world famous. Explain, in detail, the procedures that Milgram used in his study and then evaluate his results. What conclusions did Milgram reach? How have critics reacted to his research?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
? Each subject was assigned the role of "teacher" and was to use punishment in the form of electric shock when the "learner" (actually a confederate of the researcher) made an error.
? Shock level was increased by 15 volts after each error up to a maximum of 450 volts.
? Every subject administered some shock and about two-thirds went all the way to 450 volts.
? There was no difference between males and females, between different age groups, or people from different walks of life.
? Many protested, but continued after the researcher encouraged them to continue.
? Milgram concluded that obedience was a function of the situation rather than of the personalities of the subjects.
? Critics consider the study unethical because subjects were deceived, many subjects suffered emotional pain, and the situation was not realistic.
? Critics also objected to the parallel Milgram drew between his subjects and the Nazis.
You might also like to view...
What did physicians in the mid-1800s refer to as "God's own medicine"?
a. marijuana b. Godfrey's Cordial c. opium d. peyote
Maslow calls the fear some people have that the exercise of their abilities to the maximum will bring responsibilities that they cannot handle, the:
a. Jonah complex b. fear complex c. humanistic complex d. Oedipal complex
Children who have been abused tend to have internal working models of themselves that
A) are positive, as compensation. B) include greater self-awareness. C) are more coherent. D) are more fragmented and disorganized.
Two variables are said to interact when ____
A) ?the effect of one independent variable depends on the levels of the second variable B) ?both variables are equally influenced by a third factor C) ?the two variables are differentially affected by a third variable D) ?both variables produce a change in the subjects' scores