Aim: to find out if people
would show obedience to
an authority figure who
told them to administer
an electric shock to
another person
Obedience:
the
compliance
to an order
issued by an
authority
figure.
Conclusion: In general,
indiciduals will obey an
authority figure even if
what they were asked
to dop goes against
their ethical and moral
beliefs
Sample: Self-selecting,
androcentric, 40 males
aged 20-50 from New
Haven and surrounding
community, variety of
proffesions and
backgrounds
Confederate experimenter: 31
year old high school biology
teacher. Grey lab coat. Stern
throughout the experiment.
Confederate learner: 47 yearold
accountant whom most
observers found mild-mannered
and likeable.
Prods: "please continue", the
experimnet requires that you
continue" "you must go on"
Told the experiment
was about the effects
of punishment on
learning (no demand
characteristics) given
sample shock of 45v
Details
Shock generator: 30
switches 15v-450v
Quantitative data:100% of
participants continued to 300v,
26 went to 450v, 5 participants
stopped at 300V, 14 experienced
nervous smiling and laughter, 3
had uncontrollable seizures,
Qualitative data:
participants showed
signs if extreme
tension, sweat,
stuttering,
trembling,biting lips,
groaning, digging
finger nails into flesh
Controlled
observation - no
IV so it is not a lab
experiment
No informed consent,
deception, discouraged
to withdraw, not
protected from mental
harm, confidentiality,
debrief given
Reliable: can be
repeated because lot's
of controls used.