Even though the authors point to a number of situational variables that contributed to the destructive obedience of Stanley Milgram's participants (e.g., normative and informational conformity pressures, conflicting norms), it might still be argued that people have, lurking deep within them, sadistic tendencies that can easily be elicited by situational variables. What experimental findings by Milgram call this "personal attribution" into question?
A) When participants could choose the level of shock, they administered very low levels.
B) Violent prisoners administered lower shocks than non-prisoner participants.
C) There are cultural differences in the amount of shock participants administer.
D) When the learner was introduced as a minister, participants gave lower shocks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that participants administered very low levels of shock when they were given the choice undermines the argument that people have sadistic tendencies that can easily be elicited by situational variables. If the participants were truly sadistic, they would have chosen higher levels of shock regardless of the situation.

Even Though the Authors Point to a Number of Situational