Is the subject's personality or the experimental situation a better predictor of a subject's willingness to administer shock to a victim?

Abstract

Investigated the willingness of 213 undergraduates to shock a victim within a learning-study paradigm. The predictor variables were a set of personality scales (aggression, attributed power, hostility-guilt, parental aggression training, and Machiavellianism) and several experimental conditions (conformity, model, female learner, and high model). Results indicate no relationship between the personality scales and behavior, but significant effects of the experimental conditions in producing accentuated shock intensities. A survey which described the study showed large underestimates of shock levels as predicted by 80 fellow students. Ss themselves underestimated the shock levels, suggesting a possible guilt-reduction mechanism. It is suggested that this society tends to produce individuals who act contrary to their conscience when faced with even mildly compelling situations. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)