Question

Recall the methodology and results from Milgram's obedience experiment:

A) Participants administered shocks to a learner; many obeyed authority figures
B) Participants observed reactions to fear-inducing stimuli; few showed obedience
C) Participants engaged in group discussions; conformity levels were low
D) Participants completed memory tasks; accuracy was high

Answer 1

Milgram's obedience experiment showed that participants were willing to administer electric shocks to a learner despite their objections. Various variations of the experiment revealed that obedience levels decreased when certain factors were changed.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Milgram's obedience experiment, participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to a learner. Despite the learner's cries for help and pleas to stop, 65% of the participants continued to administer shocks to the maximum voltage.

Milgram conducted several variations of the experiment and found that when certain features of the situation were changed, obedience levels decreased. For example, when the setting was moved off-campus, the highest shock rate dropped to 48%, and when the learner was in the same room as the teacher, the highest shock rate dropped to 40%.

This experiment demonstrated the surprising degree to which people obey authority figures, even when it conflicts with their consciences.