Obedience

OCR

GCSE

The study of Obedience within Social Influence examines the mechanisms by which individuals comply with the demands of an authority figure, often conflicting with personal conscience. Central to this is Milgram's paradigm (1963), which shifted focus from dispositional to situational explanations, including proximity, location, and uniform. Candidates must assess social-psychological factors (Agentic State, Legitimacy of Authority) alongside dispositional theories (Authoritarian Personality). Critical evaluation requires analysis of methodological validity, ethical breaches (Baumrind), and the historical validity of findings in contemporary society.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award AO1 marks for precise citation of Milgram's (1963) results: 65% of participants administered the full 450V shock, while 100% continued to 300V
Credit responses that explicitly link the 'Agentic State' to specific commands or hierarchy cues in the provided scenario (AO2)
Evaluation (AO3) must go beyond generic ethical critiques; candidates must explain why deception was necessary to preserve internal validity
Differentiate clearly between 'autonomous state' (free will) and 'agentic shift' (surrendering responsibility) when explaining Agency Theory

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"You have described the theory well, but you must apply it to the specific characters in the scenario to gain AO2 marks"
"Your evaluation of Milgram is valid, but you need to use specific terminology like 'ecological validity' or 'demand characteristics'"
"When discussing Adorno, explicitly link the F-scale scores to childhood experiences to demonstrate full understanding of the dispositional origin"
"Ensure your conclusion in the 13-mark question weighs the evidence rather than just summarizing previous points"

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award AO1 marks for precise citation of Milgram's (1963) results: 65% of participants administered the full 450V shock, while 100% continued to 300V
Credit responses that explicitly link the 'Agentic State' to specific commands or hierarchy cues in the provided scenario (AO2)
Evaluation (AO3) must go beyond generic ethical critiques; candidates must explain why deception was necessary to preserve internal validity
Differentiate clearly between 'autonomous state' (free will) and 'agentic shift' (surrendering responsibility) when explaining Agency Theory

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡For 13-mark 'Discuss' questions, structure your response as: Description of Theory/Study (AO1) followed by three distinct evaluation points (AO3) using the GRAVE framework
💡When applying Agency Theory to a scenario (AO2), explicitly identify who acts as the 'Authority Figure' and what specific event triggers the 'Agentic Shift'
💡Memorize the specific variations in Milgram's study (e.g., telephonic instructions reduced obedience to 20.5%) to support arguments about situational factors
💡Allocate 15-20 minutes for the 13-mark extended writing question to ensure depth of analysis and a reasoned conclusion

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing 'Conformity' (yielding to group pressure) with 'Obedience' (following direct orders from authority)
Describing Adorno's Authoritarian Personality as a situational factor rather than a dispositional one rooted in childhood
Failing to contextualize the 13-mark response; providing generic descriptions of Milgram without linking to the specific question focus (e.g., ethics vs. validity)

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Identify

Describe

Explain

Outline

Evaluate

Discuss

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