Discuss the Tention Between Paying the Participant Upfront and the Use of Prods in Milgrams Study

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Tension caused by paying the participants „upfront” is huge. Being paid increases the sense of obligation. The participants did volunteer to take part in the experiment, in the first place therefore if they withdraw it will cause pressure on them that might make them think that they will have a bad word from an authority figure as they are in a prestigious university. Being paid increases the level of obedience because as they walk in, they ‘sign a contract’ confirming they will take part in the experiment. Being paid is normally for a job, i.e. after a week of work in an office, you will get your weekly pay. Therefore, every participant feels guilty withdrawing the experiment. The idea of paying the participants upfront motivates and engages the participant to be the best they can be. The psychological tension could be the internal conflict of the participant as they argue against their feelings and the reality and what they were told to do. Therefore the participant might lose their honour as they have to do something they don’t want to do and something that might kill the student, for money. The use of prods to a engage the participant to continue plays a vital part in this study. Mr. Williams has used the four prods: 1. ‘’Please continue’’ or ‘’Please go on’’ 2. ‘The experiment requires that you continue’’ 3. ‘’ It is absolutely essential that you continue’’ 4. ‘’You have no other choice, you must go on’’ This would go in a sequence, following each number if the participant spoke. If the participant asked if the student could suffer physical injury a special prod was used: ‘’ although the shocks may be painful, there is no permanent tissue damage, so please go on’’. The tension is the pressure the participant feels when they are being asked by an authority figure. The ‘’must’’ causes constant discomfort of the participant being there. Most
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