Situational Features in Milgram’s Experiment That Kept His Participants Shocking

Although people are often astonished by the high rates of obedience in Milgram’s famous studies, research on social influence processes in other settings provides considerable insight into why so many of Milgram’s participants continued to press the shock levers all the way to 450 volts. That research suggests that four situational features Milgram built into his experimental procedure contributed to the high levels of obedience. The four features are the incremental nature of the task, the novelty of the situation and the kind of normative information made available, the opportunity to deny or diffuse responsibility, and the limited opportunity to ponder decisions. When looked at in this light, Milgram’s research can be seen as a dramatic example of some well-documented psychological effects.