Milgram's obedience study was a series of experiments conducted by social psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, which examined the extent to which people would obey authority figures and inflict harm on others. The study revealed the powerful influence of social pressure and authority on human behavior, even when it conflicted with personal moral beliefs.
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Milgram's study involved a 'teacher' (the participant) being instructed by an 'experimenter' (an authority figure) to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a 'learner' (an actor pretending to be shocked).
Despite the participants' obvious distress and pleas from the 'learner', the majority of participants continued to obey the experimenter's orders and administer the shocks.
The study challenged the prevailing belief that people would not obey authority figures if their actions conflicted with their personal moral standards.
Milgram's findings highlighted the power of situational factors, such as the presence of an authority figure, in influencing human behavior and overriding individual moral compasses.
The Milgram study raised significant ethical concerns and led to changes in the way psychological research is conducted, with greater emphasis on protecting participants from harm.
Review Questions
Explain how the Milgram obedience study relates to the concept of conformity in social psychology.
The Milgram obedience study demonstrated the powerful influence of social pressure and the desire to conform to the expectations of authority figures, even when those expectations conflicted with the participants' personal moral beliefs. The study revealed that many individuals were willing to obey an authority figure and inflict harm on others, despite their own discomfort, in order to conform to the demands of the situation. This highlights the strong pull of conformity and the tendency for people to override their own moral judgments when faced with the pressure to obey an authority figure.
Describe the concept of the 'agentic state' and how it relates to the findings of the Milgram obedience study.
The 'agentic state' refers to a psychological state in which an individual perceives themselves as an agent carrying out the orders of an authority figure, rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions. In the Milgram obedience study, many participants entered this agentic state, where they viewed themselves as simply following the instructions of the experimenter, rather than as the ones responsible for the harm they were inflicting on the 'learner'. This shift in perceived responsibility allowed the participants to override their own moral compasses and continue administering the shocks, despite their growing discomfort and the pleas of the 'learner'.
Discuss the ethical considerations that arose from the Milgram obedience study and how they led to changes in the way psychological research is conducted.
The Milgram obedience study raised significant ethical concerns due to the potential for psychological and emotional harm to the participants. The study involved deceiving participants and subjecting them to distressing situations that challenged their moral beliefs. This led to a re-evaluation of the ethical guidelines for psychological research, with a greater emphasis on protecting participants from harm, obtaining informed consent, and ensuring that the benefits of the research outweigh the risks. The Milgram study was a pivotal moment in the history of psychological research, as it highlighted the need for more rigorous ethical oversight and the importance of prioritizing the wellbeing of research participants.
The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms, often driven by a desire for acceptance and belonging.
Agentic State: A psychological state in which an individual perceives themselves as an agent carrying out the orders of an authority figure, rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions.
Ethical Considerations: The moral principles and guidelines that researchers must consider when designing and conducting studies, particularly those that involve potential harm to participants.