One of the most famous studies in psychology was done by Stanley Milgram (theatlantic.com). In 1961, Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, created an experiment to study obedience (simplypsychology.org). The experiment showed “that most people will hurt their fellows rather than disobey authority,” as said in Milgram’s words (harpercollins.com). The same experiment was performed again for television in 2007 that yielded close results. Could people really be capable of hurting others if told?
The Milgram Experiment began in July 1961, just a year after the trial of Adolf Eichmann (simplypsychology.org). Adolf Eichmann was an SS officer who was in charge of sending Jews to “killing centers” across Europe (ushmm.org). After the war, Eichmann …show more content…
The rest continued to at least 300 volts (simplypsychology.org). To be sure of his findings, Milgram created 18 different versions of the experiment (simplypsychology.org). All that was altered among them was the situation (independent variable) to see how it affected the levels of obedience (dependent variable) (simplypsychology.org).
Milgram’s conclusion of his experiment was unexpected. The experimenters made an educated guess that only one-tenth would deliver a lethal shock (simplypsychology.org). They underestimated the power of authority and its effect on the ordinary person, especially the Germans who were on trial for genocide and the experiment’s participants.
The results of the experiment that ordinary people could harm another person if they were told by an authority figure. It led Milgram to believe that “obedience to authority is ingrained in us all from the time” we were children to adulthood (simplypsychology.org). Milgram identified people would listen to authority figures if they believed the orders were morally right or legally based (simplypsychology.org). In comparison to the real world with “legitimate authority,” we can find this type of behavior in families, schools, and in the workplace
The Milgram Experiment began in July 1961, just a year after the trial of Adolf Eichmann (simplypsychology.org). Adolf Eichmann was an SS officer who was in charge of sending Jews to “killing centers” across Europe (ushmm.org). After the war, Eichmann …show more content…
The rest continued to at least 300 volts (simplypsychology.org). To be sure of his findings, Milgram created 18 different versions of the experiment (simplypsychology.org). All that was altered among them was the situation (independent variable) to see how it affected the levels of obedience (dependent variable) (simplypsychology.org).
Milgram’s conclusion of his experiment was unexpected. The experimenters made an educated guess that only one-tenth would deliver a lethal shock (simplypsychology.org). They underestimated the power of authority and its effect on the ordinary person, especially the Germans who were on trial for genocide and the experiment’s participants.
The results of the experiment that ordinary people could harm another person if they were told by an authority figure. It led Milgram to believe that “obedience to authority is ingrained in us all from the time” we were children to adulthood (simplypsychology.org). Milgram identified people would listen to authority figures if they believed the orders were morally right or legally based (simplypsychology.org). In comparison to the real world with “legitimate authority,” we can find this type of behavior in families, schools, and in the workplace