Skip to main content
Download PDF

A cross-cultural study of obedience

Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society volume 11, pages 267–269 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

Using Milgram’s paradigm, 48 Jordanian college students were tested for obedience. It was found that the experimental subjects gave significantly more shocks than the control subjects. Unlike the experimental subjects, the control subjects were free to either give or not give shock. There was no difference in obedience rate between male and female subjects. In terms of overobedience, 62.5% of the experimental and 12.5 of the control subjects continued to deliver shock to the end of the shock scale.

References

  • Kilham, W., & Mann, L. Level of destructive obedience as a function of transmitter and executant roles in the Milgram obedience paradigm. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 29, 696–702.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mantell, D. M. The potential for violence in Germany. Journal of Social Issues, 1971, 27, 101–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, S. Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1963, 67, 371–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, S. Obedience to authority. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanab, M. E., & Yahya, K. A. A behavioral study of obedience in children. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1977, 35, 530–536.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, C. L., & King, R. G. Obedience to authority with an authentic victim. Proceedings of the American Psychological Association, 1972, 7, 165–166.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, California State University, Fresno, California, 93740

    Mitri E. Shanab

  2. University of Mordan, Amman, Jordan

    Khawla A. Yahya

Authors
  1. Mitri E. Shanab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Khawla A. Yahya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was carried out by the second author as a special post-master’s research project under the direction of the first author who was on a sabbatical leave at the University of Jordan, Department of Psychology, Amman, Jordan, during the 1975-76 academic year.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shanab, M.E., Yahya, K.A. A cross-cultural study of obedience. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 11, 267–269 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336827

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336827

Keywords

  • Female Subject
  • Experimental Subject
  • Female Victim
  • Shock Level
  • Teacher Subject