Explanations for Obedience
Legitimacey of authority
more obedient = authority figure considered legitimate and credible.
Experimenter in a white lab coat giving instructions 65% obeyed him (milgram)
Agentic shift
ppts undergo an ‘agentic state’
They feel they're not responsible for their actions
shift the blame on someone else or they are 'following orders'
Proximity
Victim
Authority Figure
Ppt and confederate in the same room = 40% obedience
Touch proximity study
ppt held the hand of confederate during shock = 30% obedience
Experimenter l gave orders over the phone = 21% obedience to max. shock
Vs 65% that conformed when experimenter was in the same room
Presence of allies
'Uniform'
2 other pps in the room with them (also giving shock)
Having allies makes it easier to resist orders
10% to max. shock
Location of experiment
obedience = 48% when experiment was held in run down offices
reduction in conformity once the experimentor didn't associate with a prestigious university.
Authoritarian Personality