Social Psychology Lecture 14 Obedience and deindividuation Jane Clarbour Room: PS/B007 jc129

Objectives –Give an account of the design of the Milgram experiments on obedience to authority –Specify how obedience is affected by variations in the experimental conditions –Distinguish between conformity and obedience as processes of social influence

The Milgram studies (1974) “Obedience as a determinant of behaviour, is of particular relevance to our time. It has been reliably established that from , millions of innocent people were systematically slaughtered on command. Gas chambers were built, death camps were guarded, daily quotas of corpses were produced with the same efficiency as the manufacture of appliances. These inhumane policies may have originated in the mind of a singe person, but they could only be carried out on a massive scale if a very large number of people obeyed orders” –(Millgram, 1963, pp. 371)

Hitler’s influence on social psychology People became concerned about social issues: –what causes violence? –What causes prejudice? –What causes genocide? –Why do people conform? –What makes people obey others when instructions go against their own judgment?

Teacher-learner paradigm The paired-associate learning task –Ss acts as a teacher in a learning situation The S reads a series of word-pairs to the learner S reads the first word of the pair with 4 other words Learner has to select correct word out of the 4 words –Learner is a confederate Gives predetermined responses to learning task –Gives 1 in 3 wrong answers

Milgram’s design… Teacher (Ss) has to administer shock to learner on incorrect response –Shocks get progressively higher on each incorrect response (15 volts to 450 volts, 15 volt increments) Danger: Severe Shock

Milgrams instructions to ‘teachers’ If S questions the experimenter if should continue to increase shock level, told by E ‘must continue the experiment’ –Prod 1: Please continue –Prod 2: The experiment requires that you continue –Prod 3: It is absolutely essential that you continue –Prod 4: You have no other choice, you must go on (Prods are orders)

Summary of film footage of one encounter VoltageLearner’s behaviour 15 – 75No drama 90 – 105Involuntary grunts 120Stated shocks were painful 135Painful screams 150Demanded to be let out 165 – 285Demands replaced by pleading and complaining of heart trouble. 300 – 315Refused to answer, experimenter adds condition, agonizing screams. 330 – 450No response, neither demands nor screams. Milgrim predicted that less than one percent would go to the end. How many did? 26 out of 40 (65%) of subjects went to the end of this experiment.

Experimental conditions Design was varied so that PROXIMITY of ‘Teacher’ to ‘learner’ was varied: Condition 1: Remote feedback Condition 2: Voice feedback (the standard situation) Condition 3: Same proximity Condition 4: Physical contact

The Milgram experiments Further variations & controls (All in the standard situation using the voice feedback condition) Weak heart condition –Victim mentions before experiment begins that he has a slightly weak heart! 65% still go to 450v Sex differences –Using female S (male E & learner) 50% still go to 450v (only 12.5% less than men)

The Milgram experiments Factors that do affect obedience Closeness of authority –Orders given by Experimenter over the phone Obedience dropped to 20% Ss administered lower than required level of shock Freedom of choice –Ss free to choose shock level 95% didn’t continue after learner’s 1 st protest

Summary 2 factors that contribute to obedience 1 Psychophysical distance 2 Diffusion of responsibility Subjects are in an unfamiliar environment making uninformed decisions Social Comparison Theory –when people are uncertain, they compare thoughts, feelings, and actions with those around them.

Replications in different contexts and cultures… MEES & RAAIJMAKERS (1986) Job application task (Dutch) Victim was applicant for job who came to Psych dept to take test –Ss told in context of research project to make applicant nervous through comments on test “If you continue like this you will fail” –Ss aware that victim failed test and remained unemployed 90% still continued although felt unfair This effect higher than Milgram’s lab stuff

Conclusions Milgrams experiments demonstrated strong level of social influence –Is this the same influence as in the Asch conformity experiments? Milgram argues there are a number of important differences between obedience and conformity. –Obedience is hierarchical, whereas conformity takes place between equals. –Conformity involves imitation, whereas obedience does not. –Obedience involves explicit instructions, whereas conformity is usually implicit. –People usually deny conformity in explaining their behaviour, but will acknowledge obedience.