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Chapter 2: Problem 4

What factors or characteristics distinguish those individuals who gave the highest level of shock from those who didn't? For example, would personality characteristics play a role? If so, what spectfic personality characteristics might lead some individuals to go on to give the highest level of shock and others not to?

Short Answer

Expert verified
While acknowledging the range of factors that could influence an individual's propensity to administer high shocks, the answer may include certain personality traits like high aggressiveness and low empathy. Psychological theoretical frameworks, like social learning theory, suggest people's behaviors can be conditioned by their environment and observational learning. Furthermore, contextual variables including cultural norms and group dynamics may also play a role.

Step by step solution

01

Research on the Subject

Refer to relevant studies and research, such as the Milgram Experiment, which explored similar themes about human obedience to authority figure and the influence of situational dynamics on individuals' behaviors. Identify certain patterns or common factors associated with those who administered high levels of shock in these studies.
02

Identify Relevant Personality Traits

Explore various personality traits to see how they might relate to the individual's likeliness to administer high levels of shock. For example, traits related to aggressiveness, conformity, empathy, and sensitivity towards others could potentially influence an individual's propensity towards such behaviors.
03

Theoretical Application

Apply psychological theories to help explain why certain personality traits might predispose individuals to such behavior. For instance, social learning theory posits that people can learn aggressive behaviors through observation and reinforcement.
04

Contextual Factors Analysis

Consider how factors such as cultural perspective, societal norms, and group dynamics may also contribute to explaining variances in shock-giving behaviors.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In accordance with ethnical guidelines, researchers today are compelled to instruct participants that they can withdraw from experiments at any time without incurring any penalty, Had participants, including the learner, in the Milgram study been provided with such instructions at the outset of the study, do you think this would have reduced the number of individuals who obeyed?

What is a confederate and why was one used in the Milgram study?
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