A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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Which of the following best describes the participants in Milgram's study?

They were primarily elderly individuals
They were all students at Yale University
They were mostly middle-aged women
They were young adult males from similar backgrounds

The correct answer is: They were young adult males from similar backgrounds

The description of the participants in Milgram's study as young adult males from similar backgrounds is accurate and reflects the actual participant demographics. Milgram conducted his famous experiment in the early 1960s at Yale University, recruiting participants primarily through newspaper advertisements. The majority of these participants were men, particularly young adults, which is significant since Milgram aimed to explore how ordinary people respond to authority and the ethical implications of obedience. This demographic choice is also relevant to the study's findings, as it allowed Milgram to assess the tendency of individuals in this age group to obey authority figures, even when doing so conflicted with their personal morals. Understanding the specific background of the participants contributes to interpreting the results, particularly in evaluating the effects of societal and psychological pressures on obedience. The narrow demographic of young adult males can also help explain some of the outcomes observed in the study regarding conformity to authoritative instructions in contentious situations.