Identifying the Self
Lauren Slater firsts introduces us to Stanley Milgram and his experiments in the chapter Obscura. In this chapter we revolve around the topic of self-identity compared to who we really are while under the influence of the power of authority. Slater, although unclear of the true meaning of these experiments, finds they have great power in shedding light on the distinction between who we think we are versus who we truly are (Slater, 39). This then makes myself wonder, am I who I believe myself to be? Or could I too be one of Milgram’s test subjects that believes I am not capable of things I really am.
As we go deeper into the experiments conducted by Milgram we see a common trend in the individual test subjects. Most of them describe themselves as good people, providing husbands and fathers. Yet approximately 65 percent of could be expected to harm a fellow human being while under the influence of an authority figure, according to various experiments conducted by Milgram (Slater, 39). What exactly does this imply? This shows the power of obedience when confronted with a recognized authority and how far we would be willing to obey, even if it involved harming someone. Why is the self-image of approximately 65 percent of the population so …show more content…
Perhaps our behaviors are heavily shaped by the environment and who we think we are, may be a temporary illusion we tell ourselves ignorant of the truth behind what makes us who we are. But perhaps there is the slight ability to be able to question and defy environmental pressures. This could in essence be an indirect manifestation of what we would call the self, something that would be unique in its environment. It is obviously apparent that people simply chose not to obey and have the ability to do so, rather than just reacting in a manner most appropriate to the situation rather like an input and output
Lauren Slater firsts introduces us to Stanley Milgram and his experiments in the chapter Obscura. In this chapter we revolve around the topic of self-identity compared to who we really are while under the influence of the power of authority. Slater, although unclear of the true meaning of these experiments, finds they have great power in shedding light on the distinction between who we think we are versus who we truly are (Slater, 39). This then makes myself wonder, am I who I believe myself to be? Or could I too be one of Milgram’s test subjects that believes I am not capable of things I really am.
As we go deeper into the experiments conducted by Milgram we see a common trend in the individual test subjects. Most of them describe themselves as good people, providing husbands and fathers. Yet approximately 65 percent of could be expected to harm a fellow human being while under the influence of an authority figure, according to various experiments conducted by Milgram (Slater, 39). What exactly does this imply? This shows the power of obedience when confronted with a recognized authority and how far we would be willing to obey, even if it involved harming someone. Why is the self-image of approximately 65 percent of the population so …show more content…
Perhaps our behaviors are heavily shaped by the environment and who we think we are, may be a temporary illusion we tell ourselves ignorant of the truth behind what makes us who we are. But perhaps there is the slight ability to be able to question and defy environmental pressures. This could in essence be an indirect manifestation of what we would call the self, something that would be unique in its environment. It is obviously apparent that people simply chose not to obey and have the ability to do so, rather than just reacting in a manner most appropriate to the situation rather like an input and output