Question 1

Which of the following was NOT a factor that contributed to the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq?

Accepted Answer

The rule of reciprocity, which refers to the expectation that people will respond to each other in kind—returning benefits for benefits, and responding with either indifference or hostility to harms, was not a factor that contributed to the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. The other options (A, B, D) relate to social psychology principles that explain how individuals' behaviors can be influenced by their social context and perceptions of others, which were factors in the abuse incidents.

Question 2

Milgram's first obedience study was conducted with 40 male subjects. Andrea is participating in a replication of one of Milgram's obedience experiments, in which the 40 subjects are all female. You can predict that:

Accepted Answer

Unless there are specific factors which suggest gender differences in this particular context, there is no reason to believe that the gender of the subjects would have a significant effect on the results of the study. Thus, it is probable that the results of the female-only study will be similar to the male-only study.

Question 3

Milgram described the details of his experimental design to three groups: psychiatrists, college students, and middle-class adults. He asked each group to predict how subjects would behave. The results of this survey showed:

Accepted Answer

Milgram's survey showed that all three groups (psychiatrists, college students, and middle-class adults) were wrong in their predictions of how subjects would behave in the experiment.

Question 4

In a series of variations of his obedience experiments, Milgram found that the subjects were LEAST likely to deliver high levels of shocks when:

Accepted Answer

When teachers could choose the level of shock, they were least likely to deliver high levels of shocks, indicating a greater reluctance to harm when given autonomy over the decision.

Question 5

In Milgram's original obedience study, there were many different factors operating in the situation that influenced the subjects to continue obeying the experimenter's orders. Which of the following was NOT one of those factors?

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original obedience study, the subjects were not informed that their actions were being filmed, which is a privacy and ethical consideration in psychological research. The other options (A, B, and D) were indeed factors in the study.

Question 6

Milgram, along with other researchers, identified several aspects of his original obedience experiment that had a strong impact on the subjects' willingness to obey the experimenter. Which of the following is NOT a factor that increased the subjects' willingness to obey?

Accepted Answer

Milgram found that giving the teacher freedom to choose the level of shock actually decreased their willingness to obey, as it placed the responsibility for the harm inflicted on the learner on the teacher rather than the experimenter. The other factors listed - gradual escalation, physical and psychological separation, and a pre-existing mental framework for obedience - all increased the subjects' obedience to the experimenter.

Question 7

Jason belongs to a college fraternity and has been told to show up for a hazing ritual to take place later that week. Jason is against the whole idea of hazing but is not sure how to avoid participating. According to your textbook, Jason will find it easier to refuse to participate in the hazing if he:

Accepted Answer

By finding another member to join him in his refusal to participate, Jason will have the support of someone within the fraternity who shares his stance on hazing. This can make his refusal to participate in the hazing easier and less intimidating. Additionally, having another member join him can foster a sense of solidarity and empower them to speak up against the hazing culture in their fraternity.

Question 8

Professor Gorsky is trying to replicate Milgram's obedience experiments. If Professor Gorsky allows the teachers to freely choose the level of shock given to the learner, it is probable that:

Accepted Answer

Milgram's original results found that around 65 percent of participants progressed to the maximum 450-volt level when they were forced to do so. However, if the teachers are allowed to freely choose the level of shock, it is likely that the majority will not progress beyond the 150-volt level, as they will feel more responsible for their actions and less likely to submit to the authority figure's demands. Research has shown that in similar experiments allowing free choice, around 95 percent of participants did not progress beyond the 150-volt level. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 9

During Stanley Milgram's original obedience study, most of the subjects:

Accepted Answer

Most of the subjects showed extreme tension and conflict as they continued to shock the learner. Milgram's observations of the participants indicated that they experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, and tension during the study. Many of them showed clear signs of discomfort, such as sweating, trembling, and nervous laughter, but they continued to obey the experimenter's orders even when they knew they were hurting the learner.

Question 10

To remove any doubts about the legitimacy of the shock generator in Milgram's obedience study, the:

Accepted Answer

To remove doubts about the legitimacy of the shock generator in Milgram's obedience study, the teachers were given a sample shock, which provided them with direct evidence of the device's functionality and potential harm. This helped to establish the credibility of the experimental setup and the seriousness of the situation.

Question 11

Psychological research has shown that resisting the direct orders of an authority figure:

Accepted Answer

Research on obedience and authority figures, such as the famous Milgram study, has shown that the presence of others who also challenge the authority figure can greatly increase the likelihood of resistance to their orders. This is because social support and the validation of one's own dissenting opinion can make it easier to defy the authority figure.

Question 12

In Milgram's original obedience study, what was the voltage level at which some participants first refused to continue shocking the learner?

Accepted Answer

At the 315-volt level, which was labeled "Extreme Intensity Shock," some participants first refused to continue shocking the learner.

Question 13

Which of the following statements regarding Milgram's research is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Most of the subjects did not report emotional trauma and regret after the experiment, and some even expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate.

Question 14

In a series of experiments, Stanley Milgram systematically varied the conditions of his obedience study. Under which of the following conditions were subjects LEAST likely to administer shocks to the full 450-volt level?

Accepted Answer

When the teacher observed two other teachers who refused to continue with the experiment, they were less likely to administer shocks to the full 450-volt level because they saw that others were resisting the authority figure's orders. This shows the power of social influence and the importance of role models in shaping behavior.

Question 15

Andrew volunteered to take part in a psychology experiment to earn extra credit for his psychology class. The experiment was one that studied obedience, and Andrew was asked to deliver aversive (unpleasant) consequences to another student. Based upon what you know about the forces that influence a subject to continue obeying an experimenter's orders, which of the following reactions is most likely?

Accepted Answer

Andrew has already volunteered to take part in the experiment to earn extra credit, indicating that he already has a certain level of obedience towards authority figures. This mental expectation to obey the experimenter may lead him to continue delivering aversive consequences, despite his personal discomfort or moral objections. Options A, C, and D do not necessarily reflect the forces that influence obedience, as they are based on personal morals, preferences, or objections, rather than an individual's tendency to obey authority.

Question 16

In Milgram's original obedience study, if the teacher protested that he wished to stop or that he was worried about the learner's safety, what did the experimenter do?

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original obedience study, if the teacher protested that he wished to stop or that he was worried about the learner's safety, the experimenter would say, "The experiment requires that you continue." This was a scripted response designed to encourage the teacher to continue administering the shocks despite their concerns. The experimenter would only stop the experiment if the teacher refused to continue and insisted on stopping.

Question 17

What were the basic results of psychologist Stanley Milgram's original obedience study?

Accepted Answer

Milgram's original obedience study found that despite hearing protests from the learner in another room, two-thirds of the subjects continued to administer shocks all the way to the full 450-volt level. This result showed the power of obedience to authority, even when it went against a person's moral or ethical beliefs.

Question 18

If Jerome takes part in a replication of Milgram's obedience experiments that involves observing two other "teachers" refusing to continue, it is very likely that Jerome will:

Accepted Answer

Seeing two other teachers refuse to continue in the experiment would likely provide Jerome with a sense of moral support and validation for his own potential refusal to continue administering shocks. This would make it more likely that Jerome would also refuse to go on administering shocks at the highest level. Option B is unlikely as it suggests that Jerome would act against his beliefs and values to compensate for other people's actions. Option C is not supported by the scenario and is therefore unlikely. Option D is also unlikely as it suggests that Jerome would act as a snitch, potentially jeopardizing other people's ethical decisions.

Question 19

When the subjects of Milgram's obedience experiments completed a follow-up questionnaire, Milgram found that:

Accepted Answer

Most participants, despite the ethical controversies surrounding the experiment, reported a positive experience, indicating they were glad to have participated, which suggests they found value or insight in the experience despite its stressful nature.

Question 20

Which of the following factors made it easier for the Army Reserve guards to mistreat detainees at Abu Ghraib?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the detainees were members of a different cultural and ethnic group made it easier for the guards to perceive them as members of an out-group and thus mistreat them. This is supported by social identity theory, which suggests that people tend to categorize others based on cultural and ethnic differences and discriminate against perceived out-groups. The other options are less relevant to the question of what made it easier for the guards to mistreat detainees at Abu Ghraib.

Quiz 11: Section 2: Social Psychology