The Milgram Experiment
The Milgram Experiment, conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, examined how far individuals would go in obeying authority, even when it meant causing harm to another person. Participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to a "learner" (who was actually an actor) for incorrect answers. Despite hearing protests, many continued to deliver shocks when prompted by an authority figure. The results highlighted the power of authority in influencing behavior and raised ethical questions about the limits of obedience, revealing that ordinary people could commit acts against their moral beliefs when under pressure from authority.
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The Milgram experiment, conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, tested how far ordinary people would go in obeying authority. Participants, believing they were administering electric shocks to others as part of a learning study, were instructed to deliver increasingly severe shocks for incorrect answers. Despite hearing protests from the "learner," many continued administering shocks when prompted by an authority figure. The study revealed that people are often willing to harm others if ordered to do so, highlighting the powerful influence of authority on human behavior and raising ethical questions about obedience and morality.