Obedience to Authority

Methodology and Conclusions

In «Obedience to Authority», Stanley Milgram describes a series of experiments conducted in the 1960s aimed at exploring the extent of people's obedience to authority. The methodology involved participants (referred to as "learners") following orders from an experimenter (presented as an authoritative figure) to administer electric shocks to another participant (actually an actor, called the "teacher") for incorrect answers in a test. The shocks started at low voltage and gradually increased to dangerous levels. In reality, no electric shocks were administered, but the "teacher" simulated pain and suffering. The experimenter insisted on continuing the experiment despite the "learner's" protests. Milgram's findings showed that most participants were willing to obey authority even if it contradicted their personal moral beliefs and harmed others. This study demonstrated the powerful influence of authority on human behavior and sparked extensive debates about the nature of human obedience and the ethics of scientific research.