Question

In the Milgram shock experiment, many subjects were willing to give the maximal voltage shock because they were influenced by which psychological principal? a. Deviance b. Obedience c. Conformity d. Compliance

Short answer

b. Obedience.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Milgram Experiment

The Milgram shock experiment was a psychological study performed by Stanley Milgram. It was designed to measure individuals' willingness to obey an authority figure when instructed to perform acts that conflicted with their personal conscience.

Analyze the Options

Review the given options and relate them to the context of the experiment. The options are: a. Deviance, b. Obedience, c. Conformity, d. Compliance.

Match Options with Psychological Principles

Determine which of the options is most closely related to the subjects' behavior in the Milgram experiment. Subjects administered shocks because they were following orders from an authority figure, which relates to 'obedience.'

Select the Correct Option

Select the option that accurately describes the psychological principle influencing the subjects. The correct choice is 'b. Obedience.'

Key concepts

Obedience

The Milgram experiment is one of the most famous studies in psychology, highlighting the concept of obedience. In this experiment, participants were instructed by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to a learner. Many participants complied, even when they believed the shocks were causing serious harm.
Obedience refers to following orders or instructions from someone in a position of authority. It often overrides personal morals and ethics. In the context of the Milgram experiment, the participants obeyed the scientist's commands, prioritizing authority's demands over their conscience.
Key aspects of obedience:

• Compliance to authoritative commands.
• Tendency to follow rules or orders from those perceived as experts.
• Suppression of personal beliefs in favor of obeying authority.

Understanding obedience is crucial in explaining behaviors in various social and historical contexts.

Authority

Authority plays a central role in the Milgram experiment. The experiment focused on how the presence of an authoritative figure could influence individuals' actions. Participants were more likely to obey commands because they perceived the experimenter as a legitimate authority.
This authority comes from both the social status and the environment structured to reinforce the experimenter's control. Authority figures are often seen as experts, which can lead individuals to trust their instructions without question.
In the study:

• The experimenter wore a lab coat, symbolizing scientific authority.
• The setting of Yale University provided a prestigious backdrop, enhancing the experimenter's authority.
• Participants were assured that the shocks were part of a legitimate scientific study.

These factors combined to increase the likelihood of obedience, demonstrating the powerful influence of perceived authority on behavior.

Psychological Study

The Milgram experiment is a landmark psychological study that explores human behavior under certain conditions. It sheds light on how people react when placed in situations where they must choose between obeying authority and following their moral compass.
The goals of psychological studies like this are to understand the underlying principles of human actions and reactions. In this case, the study aimed to measure the extent to which individuals would obey authority even when asked to harm another person.
Aspects of the study include:

• Controlled environment to ensure the reproducibility of results.
• Standardized procedures to maintain consistency across different participants.
• Ethical considerations to ensure participants' well-being.

The results of the Milgram experiment provided deep insights into human nature and the conditions under which obedience can be extremely powerful.

Behavioral Sciences

Behavioral sciences encompass the study of human and animal behavior through systematic and controlled observations. The Milgram experiment is a critical example within this field.
Behavioral sciences seek to explain, predict, and sometimes influence behaviors through understanding the specific principles that drive actions.
Key features include:

• Use of empirical research methods, such as experiments and observations.
• Application of findings to real-world problems and scenarios.
• Interdisciplinary approach, incorporating psychology, sociology, anthropology, and more.

The Milgram experiment has greatly contributed to the field of behavioral sciences by enhancing the understanding of obedience and the conditions that lead individuals to follow authoritative commands, often against their ethical standards.