The Milgram experiment, conducted by Psychologist Stanley Milgram in 1961, is an experiment that aroused such great controversy for its results that revealed how people are naturally inclined to obey orders from an authority figure even if these orders will go against their consciousness. Milgram invited participants to an experiment to “study the effects of punishment on learning ability”; in this experiment, “teachers” are supposed to ask “learners” questions, and if the learner answered incorrectly, the teacher has to punish the learner by administering an electric shock. Also, with each wrong answer, the teacher has to administer a higher voltage shock, while supervised by an experimenter (authority figure). All participants were appointed as “teachers” and the learners were actors who did not actually get electrocuted. As the experiment progressed, most of the participants, although they were uncomfortable with the harm that was inflicted on the learner, continued to administer the shocks upon the authority’s urges. Even Milgram was shocked to find out that only a minority challenged the authority and refused to proceed, while 65 % of participants administered maximum voltage as long as the authority commanded them to do so. (Encina) The experiment does not explain why such an inclination is overwhelming, but it sure does make us question our concepts of morality and our trust in human nature.
The Milgram Experiment - To what extent will an individual obey an authority? figure?
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