CLASS 23 Obedience Film Famous experiment by Stanley

CLASS 23

Obedience Film • Famous experiment by Stanley Milgram • Conducted in the early 1960 s • Demonstrates the power of the situation • In particular, the power of authority figures

SUMMARY • Subjects received a $4. 50 payment (not contingent on finishing) • Results showed found a surprising degree of compliance (even surprising to experts) • Up to 65% of subjects were ‘fully obedient’ (administered electric shocks up to the XXX danger level) • 50% in the version shown in class video

Contributing factors • Over the years, several independent variables were manipulated to see the effect • Psychological proximity of victim and experimenter, prestige of organization • No gender • So far, no country differences

Why do we tend to obey? • Selected by evolution ? • Generally adaptive for society • Power hierarchies more effective? • Yes, but…….

Ethical Issues • Highly stressful situation • Tension between two psychological forces: obedience & empathy • Nervous laughter • The experiment is now considered to be unethical

Recent Replications • California: Burger (2009) • http: //thesituationist. wordpress. com/2007/12/22/the-milgram-experiment-today/ • United Kingdom: Virtual reality • http: //bps-research-digest. blogspot. com/2006/12/classic-1960 s-obediencyexperiment. html • France: Le Jeu de la Mort • http: //www. npr. org/templates/story. php? story. Id=124838091