A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What deceptive element was utilized in Milgram's experiment?

1. Participants were told they were testing memory

2. Participants believed they were communicating with other subjects

3. Participants thought they were selecting their roles at random

4. Participants were misled about the voltage levels

The correct answer is: Participants were told they were testing memory

The correct answer highlights a significant aspect of Milgram's experiment, which involved the participants being led to believe they were testing memory. This deceptive element was crucial for the study's design, as it obscured the true nature of the experiment, which was actually centered on obedience to authority. By framing the study as a test of memory, participants were more likely to comply with the instructions and administer electric shocks to the "learner," who was actually a confederate and not receiving any real shocks. This misdirection allowed Milgram to investigate the extent to which individuals would follow authoritative commands, even to the point of causing apparent harm to another person. Other elements of deception, such as participants thinking they were communicating with other subjects or randomly selecting their roles, served to further mask the true purpose of the study. However, the memory testing angle was particularly effective in manipulating the participants’ expectations and justifying their actions throughout the experiment. The overall design relied heavily on the use of deception to elicit genuine reactions in terms of obedience and moral decision-making.