A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What was a noted ethnocentric bias in Milgram's study?

1. Participants were solely from Yale University

2. Only white males participated in the study

3. All participants were from the Northeastern United States

4. The sample included participants from diverse backgrounds

The correct answer is: Only white males participated in the study

The noted ethnocentric bias in Milgram's study stems from the demographic composition of the participants. The study primarily included individuals who were predominantly white males, which raises questions about the generalizability of the findings across different genders, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. This homogeneity may limit the understanding of obedience behaviors in a broader context since people from diverse backgrounds may respond differently to authority figures based on varying cultural norms and societal influences. Therefore, option B highlights a significant limitation in the sample, as the findings may not accurately reflect the obedience levels of a more varied population. In contrast, the other options do not identify a clear ethnocentric bias; for instance, having participants solely from Yale (option A) or all from the Northeastern U.S. (option C) does not necessarily implicate an ethnocentric perspective regarding race or cultural diversity, while the ideal of diverse backgrounds (option D) directly contradicts the ethnocentric bias.