Milgram's Obedience Experiment Watch The Clip Here

Milgrams Experiment On Obedience Please Watch the Cliphere Is Linkmi

Milgram's experiment on Obedience: Please watch the clip here is link Minimize Video We learn from the Milgram's experiment that: Most People, regardless of their sex, class, education, or religious backgrounds will perform acts of destructive obedience if they are placed in a situation where it is demanded of them. Do you think the results are surprising or counter-intuitive? Please quote from the textbook (chapter 6). What percentage of subjects obeyed orders? Why? Can you think of contemporary instances of over-conformity? i need 500 words

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The Milgram experiment on obedience remains one of the most significant and controversial studies in social psychology, revealing profound insights into human behavior under authority. Conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s, the experiment sought to understand how ordinary individuals could commit acts that conflicted with their personal morals under authoritative pressure. Participants believed they were participating in a study on learning and punishment, but the core focus was their willingness to administer painful electric shocks to another person when instructed by an authority figure. The findings demonstrated that a significant majority of participants were willing to obey authority figures to the point of inflicting severe pain on others—an outcome that continues to inform our understanding of obedience and conformity today.

The results of Milgram’s experiment were both surprising and counter-intuitive. Many people, when asked about obedience and morality, tend to assume that individuals would resist authority when it conflicts with their moral standards. However, the experiment revealed that approximately 65% of participants obeyed the experimenter's instructions to administer the highest voltage shocks, despite hearing recordings of the 'learner' (an actor) protesting and appearing to be in pain. According to the textbook (chapter 6), this high percentage illustrates that obedience can be deeply rooted in situational factors and authority dynamics, often overpowering personal conscience. Milgram concluded that ordinary Americans were capable of committing destructive acts when placed in specific contexts that legitimized such behavior, highlighting the power of situational influences over individual morality.

Several factors contributed to the high rate of obedience observed in the experiment. Authority figures, such as the experimenter dressed in a lab coat, maintained a commanding presence that elicited automatic compliance from participants. The setting of a scientific laboratory also added an aura of legitimacy, making it easier for subjects to accept the instructions without scrutinizing their morality. Furthermore, the gradual escalation in shock levels created a stepwise dilemma; participants found it difficult to suddenly refuse, as each incremental step appeared less severe than the previous one, a process known as “foot-in-the-door” compliance. Many individuals experienced internal conflict but ultimately obeyed because they rationalized their actions as being part of the experiment or due to a diffusion of responsibility, believing that the authority was responsible for the outcome.

In contemporary society, instances of over-conformity and obedience can be observed in various contexts, such as corporate misconduct, military obedience in wartime, or adherence to social norms that may harm others. For example, the accountability of soldiers during war often reflects obedience-driven behavior, sometimes resulting in unethical or destructive actions. A more recent instance is the proliferation of online misinformation and cyberbullying, where individuals conform to group behaviors online, obeying societal or peer influences despite ethical concerns. These examples mirror Milgram’s findings—the power of authority and situational pressures to override individual moral judgment.

In conclusion, Milgram’s experiment challenges our assumptions about human nature and morality. The high obedience rates observed are not just surprising but also reveal the vulnerability of human morality under authority’s influence. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for preventing future atrocities and promoting moral resilience in society. Recognizing the situational forces that promote over-conformity can help educators, policymakers, and individuals foster environments where ethical judgment prevails over blind obedience.

References

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