Psychology 15 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Social Influence, Psych

• School: Harvard University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 15
• Professor: Christopher Greene

Document Summary

As the learner became more and more present and real the teachers found it increasingly difficult to deliver the shocks and obedience diminished. The more removed we are from others the easier it is to hurt them: increase the forces compelling them to complete the experiment by having the experimenter present physically removing experimenter loses influence. Also diminish experimenters power by altering his authority. Easier to defy him when he is less salient and les of an authority in the participants mind. Making it easier to disobey is more effective then increasing their desire to disobey. Participants ineffectiveness in stopping the experiment meant that they were trapped in a situation of terrible conflict and stress: desperate for anything that would reduce their stress, experimenter provided stress relief by taking responsibility for what was happening. Participants did not deliver the highest voltage right away.