Question 1

Stanley Milgram asked psychiatrists, college students, and middle-class adults to predict how the subjects would behave in the experimental situation. Of the three groups, only the college students correctly predicted how most of the subjects would behave in the experimental situation.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. According to Milgram's research, none of the three groups (psychiatrists, college students, and middle-class adults) were able to accurately predict how the subjects would behave in the experimental situation.

Question 2

In Stanley Milgram's original study, almost all of the subjects refused to continue with the experiment upon reaching the 330-volt level.

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original study, some subjects did refuse to continue at 330 volts, but the majority of participants continued to the highest shock level of 450 volts.

Question 3

In Stanley Milgram's original obedience experiment, two-thirds of the subjects-26 of the 40 subjects-went to the full 450-volt level.

Accepted Answer

This is correct according to Milgram's original research.

Question 4

The scientific study of conformity and obedience demonstrated the degree to which our behavior is influenced by situational factors.

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has shown that situational factors can have a significant impact on our behavior, as demonstrated in numerous laboratory experiments and real-life situations.

Question 5

In variations of his original obedience experiment, Milgram found that if the experimenter left the room, destructive obedience greatly decreased.

Accepted Answer

Milgram found that when the experimenter was not present in the room giving orders and instructions, the participants were less likely to engage in destructive obedience behavior. This suggests that the authority figure's physical presence and instructions play a significant role in influencing obedience.

Question 6

In Milgram's original obedience experiment, the fact that the "teacher" and the "learner" were not in the same room and could not see each other was one of the key factors that influenced the subject to continue obeying the experimenter's orders.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Milgram's experiment showed that the physical separation of the teacher and learner made it easier for the subjects to obey the experimenter's orders without feeling the consequences of their actions.

Question 7

In a replication of Milgram's obedience study using female subjects, almost all of the women defied the experimenter and stopped shocking the "learner" when he first screamed at the 150-volt level.

Accepted Answer

In replications of Milgram's study, both male and female participants have shown similar levels of obedience, with many continuing to administer shocks despite the learner's protests.

Question 8

In variations of his original obedience experiment, Milgram found that the lowest level of destructive obedience occurred when the "teacher" was allowed to act as his own authority and freely choose the shock level.

Accepted Answer

Milgram did find that in variations where the "teacher" was allowed to choose the shock level, there was a decrease in levels of destructive obedience. This was known as the "Gradual Reduction" condition.

Question 9

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has demonstrated that each of us does have the capacity to resist group or authority pressure.

Accepted Answer

Research in social psychology has shown that individuals do have the ability to resist conforming to group norms or obeying authority figures, although the level of resistance may vary depending on the situation and the individual's personality and attitudes. Strategies such as assertiveness, seeking social support, and maintaining consistent beliefs and values can be effective in resisting pressure to conform or obey.

Question 10

A key factor that influenced some subjects to continue obeying the experimenter's orders in Milgram's obedience study was the situation, or context, in which the obedience occurred.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's obedience study revealed that the situation, such as the physical presence of the experimenter and the authority associated with the prestigious university setting, heavily influenced the participants' obedience to the experimenter's orders.

Question 11

In Milgram's original obedience study, the subject was debriefed at the end of the experiment, and the true purpose of the study was explained.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Milgram debriefed the subjects and explained the true purpose of the study at the end to mitigate any potential harm and to ensure that participants understood the nature of the experiment.

Question 12

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has demonstrated that people do not have the capacity to resist group or authority pressure and will inevitably conform and obey, even though it may make them feel uncomfortable.

Accepted Answer

While conformity and obedience studies have shown a tendency for people to conform and obey in certain situations, individuals do have the capacity to resist such pressures. Factors such as the strength of the individual's beliefs, the size and unanimity of the group, and the perceived legitimacy of authority figures can all impact an individual's likelihood of conforming or obeying.

Question 13

The subjects assigned to the role of "teacher" in Milgram's original obedience study showed very little emotion or concern for the obvious pain they inflicted on the "learner" when they administered intense electric shocks.

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original obedience study, many of the "teachers" showed signs of stress, discomfort, and concern for the "learner," despite continuing to administer shocks under the experimenter's orders.

Question 14

In one variation of Milgram's obedience experiment, the "teacher" saw two other participants refuse to obey the experimenter. Under these experimental conditions, more than 50 percent of participants still administered the maximum shock value of 450 volts.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. In the variation of Milgram's obedience experiment where two other participants refused to obey, only 10 percent of participants administered the maximum shock value of 450 volts.

Question 15

One of the key factors that contributed to the destructive obedience seen in Stanley Milgram's original experiment was that the subjects arrived at the lab with the mental expectation that they would obey the person in charge.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's experiment involved recruiting subjects who believed they were participating in a study on memory and learning. They were not informed about the actual nature of the experiment, which involved testing obedience to authority figures. This lack of information, combined with the fact that the subjects were in a laboratory setting with a perceived authority figure directing them, created a mental expectation or schema for obedience, thus contributing to the high levels of obedience observed in the experiment.

Question 16

One factor that contributed to the obedience displayed in Milgram's experiments was that the level of the shocks, and the "learner's" protests, escalated gradually.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's experiments involved increasing the voltage of the shocks in small increments, while the "learner" protested and expressed more and more distress. This gradual escalation of both the shocks and the learner's reactions may have contributed to the participants' obedience and reluctance to disobey the experimenter's instructions.

Question 17

In Stanley Milgram's original obedience experiment, none of the subjects stopped shocking the "learner" before the 300-volt level.

Accepted Answer

In Milgram's original experiment, 65% of subjects continued shocking the learner to the maximum 450-volt level.

Question 18

Being at odds with the majority or with authority figures is very uncomfortable, can cause distortions in judgment and perception, and may lead many people to act in ways that violate their conscience.

Accepted Answer

Being at odds with the majority or with authority figures can create cognitive dissonance, which can cause individuals to feel uncomfortable, struggle with their perception, and potentially act in ways that go against their values or beliefs.

Question 19

In a follow-up questionnaire, more than half of the participants in Milgram's obedience experiments reported that they were "sorry to have been in the experiment" because they felt bad about having inflicted so much pain on the "learner."

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a follow-up questionnaire, more than half...

Question 20

Complying with slightly objectionable requests will make it easier for you to resist requests that are more objectionable.

Accepted Answer

Complying with slightly objectionable requests can lead to a "foot-in-the-door" effect, making it more likely that you will comply with more objectionable requests in the future.

Quiz 11: Social Psychology