Proximity – closeness of teacher and learner

Condition 1 – teacher and learner in the same room – obedience dropped to 45%, Condition 2 – teacher forced learners hand onto the electric shock plate – obedience rate dropped to 30%, Condition 3 – Experimenter left the room and gave instructions to teacher through phone – obedience dropped to 20.5%. Participants frequently pretended to give shock or gave a shock which was weaker than instructed.

Conclusion – Proximity influences obedience especially when the experimenter is further away

 

Location – where the study was carried out

Procedure – conducted in a rundown building

Findings – obedience dropped to 47.5%

Conclusion – location does have an effect as the conformity dropped when moved to a worse building. Environment influences levels of obedience

 

Uniform – what the experimenter was wearing

Procedure – Experimenter was called away and their role was taken by an ‘ordinary member of the public’ in everyday clothing

Findings – Obedience fell to 20%

Conclusion – Uniform influences obedience, when someone is wearing normal clothes the experimenter has less authority and so obedience decreases. The clothes people wear can influence levels of obedience due to perceived authority.

​

Evaluation of Milgram's Situational Variables

- Strength – Control of Variables in Milgram’s Variations

Milgram systematically altered one variable at a time. The baseline study was used in every variation, so apart from the variation variable (e.g. proximity) all other procedures and variables were consistent. The study was replicated with more than 1000 participants so the control was very high. Therefore, it can be suggested that Milgram’s variation research had high internal validity. The high levels of control meant that Milgram was studying the effects of the IV on the DV.

​

- Limitation – Obedience Alibi

The variation research offers an explanations of the factors within a situation that can influence obedience. This perspective has been criticised for offering an excuse or “alibi” for evil behaviour. If this is applied to Nazi Germany, it could be suggested that Nazi’s were themselves victims of situational variables as they were simply obeying orders. When applied in this way the perspective can be considered as very offensive to the Holocaust victims and survivors. Milgram’s perspective offers a short term perspective of obedience – many German citizens obeyed Hitler’s orders and committed terrible crimes against the Jewish population. Individual intentions and cognitive processing are not considered in Milgram’s perspective.