Both Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo conducted research that showed how situational factors play an important role in our willingness to conform and obey. Milgram found that obedience levels rose and fell in relation to the particular conditions. For example, obedience levels fell if participants were face-to-face with the person they were ‘shocking’. Obedience levels fell further if the experimenter gave orders over the phone.
In the Stanford prison experiment, Zimbardo demonstrated that anyone could become a ruthless prison guard, given the right circumstances. He concluded that violent, antisocial behaviour is not explained by having ‘bad apples’ but by placing ordinary people in a ‘bad barrel’ (i.e. it is the situation that creates anti-social behaviour).
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
