Milgram (1963) obedience study

What was the primary aim of Milgram's 1963 obedience study?

• To assess the impact of group pressure on conformity

• To investigate the extent to which individuals would obey authority figures

• To examine the effects of punishment on learning

• To explore the role of social norms in decision-making

What was the cover story given to participants about the purpose of the study?

• Studying the effects of punishment on learning

• Investigating obedience to authority figures

• Understanding moral reasoning under pressure

• Exploring group decision-making dynamics

What role did the "teacher" in Milgram's study play?

• An authority figure commanding obedience

• A confederate pretending to learn

• A participant who administered shocks to the learner

• An observer monitoring the experiment

At what voltage level did the learner first audibly protest in Milgram’s study?

• 150 volts

• 75 volts

• 300 volts

• 450 volts

How were participants in Milgram’s study recruited?

• Random sampling from schools

• Government employee referrals

• Invitations from universities

• Advertisements in newspapers

What percentage of participants in the original study administered the full 450 volts?

• 25%

• 50%

• 65%

• 90%

What ethical criticism is most frequently associated with Milgram's study?

• Lack of generalisability

• High levels of deception and psychological distress

• Poor operationalisation of variables

• Absence of informed consent

Which factor was found to reduce obedience in Milgram’s variations?

• Increased distance between the authority figure and the teacher

• The presence of a second teacher

• A more authoritative setting

• A lack of monetary reward

How does Milgram's study relate to the situational versus dispositional debate?

• It supports the idea that dispositional traits explain obedience

• It dismisses both situational and dispositional explanations of behaviour

• free will overrides both situational and dispositional influences

• shows that situational factors like authority play a key role in obedience