Essay
social influence- situational variables in obedience 16 marker
- Module
- Social Influence
- Institution
- AQA
Essay of 1 pages for the course Social Influence at AQA (3 ao1 4 ao3)
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One situational variable into obedience is proximity. In Milgram's original study the teacherand learner were in adjoining rooms, so they could hear but not see each other. In the
proximity variation of his study, the teacher and learner were put in the same room.
Obedience dropped from 65% to 40%. The proximity to the authority figure was manipulated
too, in the remote-instruction variation, the experimenter gave instructions via the phone
rather than in person. Here, obedience dropped to 20.5%. This suggests that being able to
see the authority figure or the physical impact of their ordered behaviour, affects an
individuals' want to obey.
Location is also a situational variable into obedience. Milgram's original study was done in
Yale University (a prestigious location). In the location variation, the study was carried out in
a run-down building. Obedience dropped to 47.5%, suggesting there was less authority in
this setting.
Uniform is another situational variable into obedience. In the original study, the experimenter
wore a white lab coat as a symbol of authority. In the uniform variation, the experimenter
was called away for a phone call and was replaced by an 'ordinary member of the public'.
Obedience rates dropped to 20%, suggesting uniform has an effect on our want to obey.
There is research support for the influence of situational variables particularly the ‘uniform’
factor. Bickman carried out a field experiment whereby he had a confederate dress either
casually, as a security guard or milkman, and had them ask passers-by in a park to pick up
litter. It was found that people were twice as likely to obey the 'security guard' than the
normal looking person. This therefore supports Milgram's conclusion that a uniform conveys
authority and is a situational factor for obedience.
However, a potential limitation to Milgram's variations is its lack of realism. Orne and Holland
suggested that the extra experimental manipulation made the scenario even more unlike real
life, meaning the participants were even more likely to realise the procedure was fake. In the
variation where the experimenter was replaced by a member of the public, even Milgram
recognised how unconvincing it was. Therefore the results may reflect demand
characteristics due to participants seeing the deception, rather than real-life obedience.
Another limitation of Milgram's research into situational variables is that it only uses
American participants and so the results may only reflect behaviours relevant to western
societies. Though there is cross cultural research to support Milgram's findings such as that
of Miranda et al who found an obedience rate of over 90% amongst Spanish students, Smith
and Bond have identified a crucial point, that these only take place in Western developed
societies. Such societies are culturally not that different from the USA thus it would be
premature to assume that such findings have complete cross cultural validity.
This being said, a major strength of the research into situational variables is that Milgram
systematically altered one variable at a time to test the effects on obedience. Other variables
were kept constant and the study was replicated on over 1000 participants. This control
gives us more certainty of scientific causation as well as improving reliability due to
replications. Thus giving it high internal validity.
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