The Obedience Study

The Obedience Study, conducted by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, explored how far people would go in obeying instructions from an authority figure, even when it involved inflicting pain on another person. Participants believed they were administering electric shocks to a learner for incorrect answers. Despite hearing (but not actually causing) distress from the learner, many continued to deliver shocks when prompted by the experimenter. The study revealed that ordinary people could commit harmful acts when directed by authority, raising ethical questions about obedience and moral responsibility.