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WorksheetsObedience Theories
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 5mins
According to Milgram, Obedience is a result of both nature and nurture. This is because ?
We are taught to obey and continue to learn obedience through socialisation.
We obey because we have evolved to have a hierarchical structure and then we are socialised to follow the order of a legitimate authority figure.
We are genetically predisposed to being obedient.
Obedience is only learnt through nature.
Why do people obey a legitimate authority figure, even if they feel it goes against their moral compass?
People are instrinsically evil
The source has a strength because of their status.
They relieve their moral strain by giving responsibility of actions to the legitimate authority figure.
They are taught to do so.
Name one factor, according to Milgram increases obedience.
A run down location
private acceptance
Status of the location
The number of targets
Which two factors can lead to a reduction in obedience?
Receiving instructions over the phone
A high status location
An ordinary man and not a legitimate authority.
Having a buffer e.g. a wall
There is evidence to support Milgram's agency theory. Tick the correct pieces of evidence that supports agency theory.
Milgram found that participants would question the experimenter and inflict harm on Mr Wallace.
Sherif found that two groups competing for points/ trophies will show hostility to the opposing teams.
Milgram's peer support condition showed that when participants are given support from another peer they may reject the demands of the legitimate authority figure.
Hofling found that 21/22 nurses obeyed the legitimate authority over the telephone.
There may be practical issues with research used to support Milgram's Agency Theory. This may mean that theory may be based on invalid research. Tick the statement that highlights practical evidence used to support Milgram's Agency Theory.
Milgram's research has been criticised for not being reliable because of the use of standardised procedures.
Milgram's study has been criticised for having poor external validity. This is because the task of shocking an individual is unrealistic, therefore lacks mundane realism.
Sam is on holiday. He chooses to go to the shops rather than do his Psychology revision. According to Milgram, he is in the ............................. state.
Autonomous state and therefore he is acting on his own free will.
Moral state and so he feels he need to obey in order to relieve himself of moral strain.
Agentic State and he quickly obeys the commands of a legitimate authority figure.
To increase his self esteem he becomes hostile towards the out group.
Sam has been told that he must revise over the holidays by his headteacher. He therefore devises a revision timetable and revises consistently over the two week period. He has, therefore shifted to an ................................ state
Moral state
Agentic State
Autonomous State
Milgram's agency theory can be criticised using the issues and debates. Tick the correct criticisms of Milgram's agency theory.
Milgram's research is based on a wide body of evidence, increasing it's credibility.
Milgram's agency theory ignores individual differences e.g. the personality of the individuals.
Concepts such as moral strain are difficult to measure under a scientific framework.
The theory is reductionist and therefore this allowed Milgram to isolate factors impacting obedience e.g. the legitimacy of setting.
Milgram's Agency theory can be counter argued using ................ theory.
Social Identity Theory
Realistic Conflict Theory
Social Impact Theory
Agency Theory
Social impact theory differs from Milgram's agency theory because...
It suggests that obedience is a product of both nature and nurture.
It considers the interplay between the number of targets, the strength of the source and the immediacy of the source to target.
It suggests that prejudice requires competition for a resource.
It suggests that we learn to obey through primary and secondary socialisation and does not consider innate tenancies that may lead to obedience.
Social impact theory is similar to Milgram's Agency theory of obedience because ?
It ignores that impact of personality as an individual difference that might impact whether we obey or dissent (disobey).
The theory suggests that simply putting individuals in groups leads to hostility.
It may be difficult to measure aspects of the theory e.g. the strength of source etc.
Social impact theory is supported by evidence. ......................... showed that................................................
Jane Elliot found that simply being placed in a blue eyes and brown eyes group leads to hostility.
Hofling found that 21/22 nurses obeyed the legitimate authority without question.
Burger's model refusal condition showed that when targets dissent it leads to a reduction in obedience in the participants.
Milgram showed that when his experiment was moved to a run down office it led to a reduction in obedience.
