Stanley Milgram's classic experiment proved that it's not just the evil, stupid or the weak who are willing to follow orders. Ordinary, mentally healthy people are likely to comply with authority as well. You can take a look at the original footage of the procedure or you can watch a replication of the experiment done in the UK in 2009 Of course, you can watch both if you choose! Both versions have three parts. Please watch all three parts, you'll gain a greater understanding, it's interesting and you'll never forget the experiment.
After you've watched one of the experiments, read the 2008 article in the New York Times about the lasting power of the experiments and respond to this post with brilliant insights! Discuss what you think this demonstrates about human nature. Remember, everyone always thinks that they wouldn't go all the way, how 'bout you?
"Let me out of here!, I have a heart condition, Let me out of here!"- He(the learner) sounded as though he were acting. You can tell the difference between the subjects (teachers) like the male in the white shirt was, in my opinion, imcompetent. I wonder what was his level of education. He said, "The answer is bird! 345 volts....." lol."Something is happening to that man in there" no $h!+ sherlock.
ReplyDeleteEdric, thanks for being the first person to post, but let this be a lesson to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteYa'll have got to start focusing on the question(s) at hand, to repeat:
"Discuss what you think this demonstrates about human nature."
Your post is worth 15 points. You'll only get 5 if you don't respond to the question.
No, I wouldn't even attempt to start the process because this cruel and unjust. You should shock a person just because they are not being obedient unto you. Obedience comes with respect and if you don't respect that person they won't be obedient to you. Increasing the voltage could be dangerous on both ends. It could kill the person that being shocked and the person controlling the machine. This tells you that human nature is cruel and demand power
ReplyDeleteBernell, did you watch the entire experiment? You say:
ReplyDelete"It could kill the person that being shocked"
but that most certainly was not true in this experiment. Does obedience always come from respect? People in class obeyed Labranch when he asked them to do jumping jacks, not because they respected him or his request, but because....?
Who was the subject in this experiment?
"The answer is bird! Mrs. Rious you will now recieve 375 volts..."
ReplyDeleteIt raises, Mrs. Rious!, the possibilty that human nature cannot be counted on to protect men from brutality and inhumane treatment at the direction of monovalent authority. A substantial portion of people do what they are told to do, regardless of the content of the act and without limitation of conscience so long as they percieve that the command comes from a legitimate authority.
Would I pull the switch? I have no idea what I would do in any given situation. I can only wait until it happens. It really depends on what the situation is. This experiment was very interesting, but because the learner sounded so silly I would have pull the switch or though it was all just a joke and wouldn't have gone through with it. Especially because he(the Learner) pointed out he had a heart condition from the start. That would have been strange to me and I would have been asking a lot of questions.
ReplyDeleteThis experiment and the article shows the differences in human nature. Some people know right from wrong right off the bat and some take time to process information and the stituation that is taking place. We as humans might bend our back to authority weather its a guy wearing a lab coat or a man in a police uniform. If we feel inferior or that they know more, our human nature might make us want to make them happy or comply with their demands no matter how ridiculous or cruel. I can appreciate that as the cries for help got louder people started to pull out but alot of people stayed. It also shows how different people see things, most people might see a guy in uniform and feel inferior while others take the comfort in knowing that if that person has a higher role than I do then that person will have to take on that responsibilty. To me this thought sounds like rationanlizing so I'm left to wonder did those who didn't pull out of the experiment not do it because they didn't have time to think or because they felt like they couldn't be held resposible. Human nature can result into cowardly acts, just like it can result into trying to please others, the ones who seem like their above you. I wouldn't pull the switch because I do not feel like I could be influenced to the point that I disregard another humans emotion or physical well being.
ReplyDeleteSarah and Edric, EXCELLENT comments. Thanks for taking such an honest approach. It's so easy to say "Oh no, not me".
ReplyDeleteI know for sure that I would have went all the way to 450-volts if I didn't know what was going on. I wouldn't have thought of whether it was right or wrong to do because the doctor or professor had given me instructions to increase the volts per wrong answer. The "learner agreed to these shocks, therefore, he's only getting what he asked for. I wouldn't think of it as wrong because I would think of it as operant conditioning where this increased shock is paired with incorrect answers. The "learner" should be learning not to answer incorrectly. I do understand that there are some people out there who would think not to finish the assignment they were given but that in fact is teaching the "learner" that there are no consequences for being wrong. I don't see it as being influenced or being obedient, I see it as a way to correct the faults in a person. I bet if the guy lives through all of that, which I doubt very seriously, he would never answer another question incorrectly. Sometimes near death experiences cause people to wake up and smell the coffee.
ReplyDeleteNo obedience comes for fear...if you fear that person you are going to obey them but not necessarily respect them. Obedience and Respect has used similarly but has two complete different definitions.
ReplyDelete“they may be painful, not dangerous”…..!!!???? WHAT? Lol… And how many times he said he wasn’t going to shock him, and he kept doing it??
ReplyDeleteThis article let me know that people actually betray their own eyes, judgment, and even their humanity. This also showed the differences in human nature. Some people know right from wrong and some people are cruel and really don’t care about others, especially if they kept shocking the person. They were under a lot of pressure to produce results . The voltage level in which most people disobeyed the experimenter was very high. More than ½ the participants agreed to proceed with the experiment past the 150 volt mark. Just because a person of authority is present you shouldn’t always do what you really know is wrong. Would I pull the switch? That’s a good question that I honestly don’t know how to answer… I agree with edric, I would have to be put in the situation in order to know what I would do. I don’t think I would but I don’t know for sure. It’s sad how easy it is for people to act destructively with authority’s permission. I find it interesting that they’re still talking about this work.
This experiment shows the variations in human nature b/c many people will argue that it's " only human nature "for someone to refuse to harm another human being. However, then the question arises " Well if thats human nature, thenwhat was it when the people continued until the end ? " I think authority plays a big role in human judgement, especially on those individuals who continued with the experiment. I also agree with shanda about the people feeling inferior b/c there were uneducated subjects so of course once the doctor says it just painful, not harmful, they're thinking the "dr. knows best." That's just me rationalizing, not justifying b/c no one had to teach me to stop hurting someone when they are crying out for help, especially saying their heart is hurting! I think I would have ended the experiment once the learner say so not when he was saying " ouch" b/c that was implying it's painful, not harmful just as the doctor said.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say what I would do in the situation. It's easy to say "oh no I wouldn't do that its wrong and unjust" but humans have respect for authority and we as people naturally judge a situation based on whose involved and sometimes we may feel inferior. Some people know right from wrong at the very beginning and others may not. If another student told me to perform this experiment I probably wouldn't do it but if an "authoritative" figure told me to, I don't know. The milgram experiment is something where you have to be in the situation.
ReplyDeleteIts human nature? Well I guess it is because the teacher agreed to it knowing what was going to happen to the learner. To be honest I think I would have done it because its def. In my mature to hurt someone when I have the chance to. So I cant say that wouldnt have started. On the other hand, I would have stopped because its in our nature to feel sympathy for someone unless we're michael myers or something! Thats just crazy. But to answer your question in simpler terms I believe that it's human nature to use an athoritive figure to do somethong we wouldnt normally do. Its not evil its just called taking a walk on the dark side, something freud will agree with! Also its only human to try to make up from being "evil" to actually trying to recover whats left of them.
ReplyDelete" Who KNOWS BEST"
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to say I would have stopped with the hollering because the experimenter informed me that it would be painful but wouldn't harm the person and I would have automatically thought it was true he knew what he was talking about because he was the experimenter experimenter. At the same I know I would have stopped because for one the man had a bad heart and when one who has problems with their heart get upset they can catch heart attacks, which could lead to death. Also I know 100% that I would have before I reached the XXX because it doesn't take Frued to figure out that XXX is bad (In kids cartoons it symbolizes poison or some sort of danger). Accountability is also a huge factor because those who felt as though they would be held accountable stopped at 150 volts while those who felt that the experimenter would be the one to blame continue.(R.I.P KITTY G.). Authority is another factor because many continued even if they had doubts because the experimenter(authority) said to do so. Also some people can't react accurately when rushed as they would if they had time.
SORRY, SORRY...A few typos... delete second experimenter.... add time after at... add stop in the 100% sentence.... we A.p. kids you should still understand
ReplyDeleteWell, the experiment my have be a little cruel but it proved a very good point. I watched the UK video && it was interesting. Someone would respect authority whether its a professor or cop. If a cop told you to do something you would do what youve been told because you know the consequences you could face if you dont. So the same with the professor. Though the "teacher" may not receive a penalty for shocking the "leaner" the professor still demands them to go on with the volts even at 450!. The demonstrates that human nature can come in many ways whether your aware that your doing something wrong or cruel. Im sure those people didnt want to continue, but it was in their nature to respect authority and go on with the experiment. Point blank. I do believe that i would have kept shocking them at least to 250. It would have seemed funny especially hearing that man "let me out of here let me out!" It may be wrong, but its in my "nature" that that situation would trigger something in me to stop. (SORRY) :(
ReplyDeletemy comment was WAYYYYYY longer than that one. but i made a mistake and clicked on the article and it all deleted. :(
ReplyDeleteThere are two main things that the article and the videos in this post demonstrate about human nature. The first one is that humans as we are today, heavily influenced by each other. If it was not for the experimenter going on and saying the experiment must continue and go on the subject (the teacher) would have never pursued the issue, without the verification of the instructor. Secondly in demonstrates that humans are no better than the other animals that kill and prey on one another, even though he was only shocking the student and not engaging in any kind of brutal attack he was steel a person, who has the same exact reaction he would have if he were being shocked.
ReplyDeleteO M G Gary the same thing happen to me but not only did it happen once it happened twice. And to think i was a woman of perfection!
ReplyDeleteWow, what yet anther unethical experiment.. But hey, listening to authority can do that to you... I truly believe that I would have stopped after 50 volts lol... but sometimes, I believe that it is your fault if you always want to listen to an authority figure in crueling situations like this. Don't you have your own mind? unless, the person is threating to kill you, then that us a different story...
ReplyDeleteSorry, but in my personal opinion, I believe it depends on the individual. I may be wrong but if I was a subject in this experiment, I strongly believe that I wouldn't have went that far, authoritative figure or not. There are some individuals that are nonchalant, and others that care. However I see the purpose of the experiment but as soon as I would have heard some one scream, I wouldn't have went further. Overall, I love the experiment and it's very true about people would do things just because some one I power said to do it which is absolutely true.
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ReplyDeleteBefore the experiment would have started I would have observed my surroundings and began asking the psychologist questions, like if I was part of the experiment where I could not see the learner getting shock, why can�t I see the learner getting shock?............. But once the learner say ouch or something, I would have stop the experiment, received my $450 check and called it a day, especially since its easy for me to say no and stick to it. This experiment showed that human nature is extremely different in the way we humans think, feel, and act. Especially at the fact that we feel more relax and at ease when we put our blame and problems on others, without even having a "conscious". It always showed that the majority of the time authority takes over human nature go figure�.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that the video was so "unethical" rather it was just PROOF that people would go beyond the norm when authority comes to play.
ReplyDeleteME? Kerri?? I would have did the experiment and probably went to to far range(450 volts) because of money..just being honest.I wouldn't do it because of authority, rather MONEY IS MY MOTIVATION... Although I do have a heart and is caring, therefore the screams of someone yelling from the pain that IM CAUSING,would motivate me to STOP... human nature plays a big role because most of the time a person is more likely to listen to someone who is more superior or holds more authority..ALSO a person will stop increasing the volts because it is only human to sympathasize
Honestly I think I would have kept shocking the person on the other side just becaus eI was askrd to do so even though I could have been killing the other person I wouldnt no why or what it was for but if I was order to do it im pretty sure I would have.
ReplyDeleteSome would argue (Joellen) that its human nature for a person to automatically feel remorce and stop shocking the person. But what if human nature means respecting authority. I know for me i feel that i have to respect any authority no matter the consequenes. I personally would have not stopped shocking the person because i would feel that i would be going aganist a person who obviouslly knows that they are talking about. I would feel that my stopping would mean failure. Failure to comply to the experiment and complete the task. I think i am one of thoses people who would go beyond what is normal to respect authority. Maybe not in certain situations, but who's to say unless you are actually in that situation and in the right state of mind.
ReplyDeleteMan the blogger keep saying unable to complete the action and my stuff getting erased so imma tell you verbally in class. Man this thing just blowed me for real.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say what I would do in na situation like this. I am not usually the type of person to go against the grain of things in a situation, but if neessary I will. I think that it is completely inhumane to do something like this, even if you arew doing no harm. the idea of it may be causing someone actual death would keep me from completing such an act/experiment.
ReplyDelete