Authority and Obedience: A Complex Social Dynamic
Stanley Milgram’s (1963) primary objective within his study was to analyze the concept of obedience to authority figures. Milgram’s (1963) interest in the subject of obedience began as he questioned how individuals could commit acts of extreme violence against others simply because they were ordered. Milgram’s (1963) theoretical proposition was that humans would follow or obey an order from powerful authority figures, even if it went against all their moral and ethical beliefs. Milgram (1963), through a controlled lab experiment, found this to be true. The participants in Milgram’s (1963) study displayed extremely high levels of obedience to authority even when the order was to harm another human and went against the participants moral and ethical beliefs. The participants of the study consisted of forty males between their 20’s to 50’s, who ranged from skilled/unskilled workers, businessmen, to professionals (Milgram, 1963). The men were recruited to the study through an ad in the newspaper that asked for paid participants in a study about memory and learning (Milgram, 1963). The key players involved in the study were the confederate, a 47 year old man, that acted as one of the participants and an actor that acted as …show more content…
Milgram’s (1963) study illustrated a new dynamic between human nature and action and the power of authority. Milgram’s (1963) research findings illustrate how and why an individual willingly follows orders that might go against their moral and ethical beliefs. Milgram (1963) argues that it is not because a person is inherently evil or violent, but rather humans tend to follow orders of those who are positions authority above them. Milgram’s (1963) study contributed to a better understanding of how outside factors must also be taken into account when analyzing someone’s
Stanley Milgram’s (1963) primary objective within his study was to analyze the concept of obedience to authority figures. Milgram’s (1963) interest in the subject of obedience began as he questioned how individuals could commit acts of extreme violence against others simply because they were ordered. Milgram’s (1963) theoretical proposition was that humans would follow or obey an order from powerful authority figures, even if it went against all their moral and ethical beliefs. Milgram (1963), through a controlled lab experiment, found this to be true. The participants in Milgram’s (1963) study displayed extremely high levels of obedience to authority even when the order was to harm another human and went against the participants moral and ethical beliefs. The participants of the study consisted of forty males between their 20’s to 50’s, who ranged from skilled/unskilled workers, businessmen, to professionals (Milgram, 1963). The men were recruited to the study through an ad in the newspaper that asked for paid participants in a study about memory and learning (Milgram, 1963). The key players involved in the study were the confederate, a 47 year old man, that acted as one of the participants and an actor that acted as …show more content…
Milgram’s (1963) study illustrated a new dynamic between human nature and action and the power of authority. Milgram’s (1963) research findings illustrate how and why an individual willingly follows orders that might go against their moral and ethical beliefs. Milgram (1963) argues that it is not because a person is inherently evil or violent, but rather humans tend to follow orders of those who are positions authority above them. Milgram’s (1963) study contributed to a better understanding of how outside factors must also be taken into account when analyzing someone’s