Burger 2009 - Contemporary Study
Facts:
Other differences:
It was a variation of Milgram’s
70 adults = 29 male and 41 female
experiment carried out by Jerry Burger.
Aged 20-81
Partial replication but more ethical.
55% Caucasian
Variation 5 had a ‘heart condition’ on the
4% Black Afro-American
script.
60% had Uni degrees
Variation 7 the 2nd teacher (confederate)
Max voltage was 150v which in
encourages the main participant to stop.
Milgram’s one was seen as the point of
Burger incorporates both of these into his
no return.
study.
Locus of Control:
He wanted to investigate empath and
The degree to which people believe
locus of control on people in society.
that they, as opposed to external
Locus of control is the ability to have
forces, have control over the
control and say over your own life and
outcome of events in their lives.
decisions. He used a self questionnaire
The concept was developed by
for participants to assess these traits.
Julian B. Rotter in 1954.
Procedure: Findings:
There was a 2 step screening process first 70% pressed the 150v button compared
to see if participants could handle a lot of with Milgram’s 82.5% in experiment 5.
stress. There was no significant difference in
Participants were warned 3 times in obedience rates between men and women,
writing that they could withdraw at any although women were slightly more likely
point and keep the $50. to press the 150v button.
The experimenter was a clinical The defiant participants did have a
psychologist. significantly higher desire for personal
The ‘test shock’ was at 15v rather than control scores than obedient participants.
45v like Milgram.
No time passed between the introduction Conclusion:
and the debrief. Milgram’s findings are not era-bound
A clinical psychologist supervised all the nor are they androcentric.
trials. Lack of empathy does not seem to
Self-reporting questionnaires were used to explain high obedience rates.
measure empathic concern and desire for Desire of control seems to determine
personal control. defiance.
Facts:
Other differences:
It was a variation of Milgram’s
70 adults = 29 male and 41 female
experiment carried out by Jerry Burger.
Aged 20-81
Partial replication but more ethical.
55% Caucasian
Variation 5 had a ‘heart condition’ on the
4% Black Afro-American
script.
60% had Uni degrees
Variation 7 the 2nd teacher (confederate)
Max voltage was 150v which in
encourages the main participant to stop.
Milgram’s one was seen as the point of
Burger incorporates both of these into his
no return.
study.
Locus of Control:
He wanted to investigate empath and
The degree to which people believe
locus of control on people in society.
that they, as opposed to external
Locus of control is the ability to have
forces, have control over the
control and say over your own life and
outcome of events in their lives.
decisions. He used a self questionnaire
The concept was developed by
for participants to assess these traits.
Julian B. Rotter in 1954.
Procedure: Findings:
There was a 2 step screening process first 70% pressed the 150v button compared
to see if participants could handle a lot of with Milgram’s 82.5% in experiment 5.
stress. There was no significant difference in
Participants were warned 3 times in obedience rates between men and women,
writing that they could withdraw at any although women were slightly more likely
point and keep the $50. to press the 150v button.
The experimenter was a clinical The defiant participants did have a
psychologist. significantly higher desire for personal
The ‘test shock’ was at 15v rather than control scores than obedient participants.
45v like Milgram.
No time passed between the introduction Conclusion:
and the debrief. Milgram’s findings are not era-bound
A clinical psychologist supervised all the nor are they androcentric.
trials. Lack of empathy does not seem to
Self-reporting questionnaires were used to explain high obedience rates.
measure empathic concern and desire for Desire of control seems to determine
personal control. defiance.
