Here is a link to the text of the article "Obedience" by Ian Parker. As before, email me if you have any trouble opening it, and I'll paste the text into an email for you.
This article brings up a wide range of issues dealing with Milgram's experiment--the problems and controversy surrounding it, as well as the value and possible applications of it to real life.
What did you think about the criticism of it from the various Milgram experts and social psychology professionals? Do you think it's possible that many of the subjects saw through the ruse and simply continued to cooperate because they were playing their part in an elaborate scientific role-play? Do you think there is any real value to Milgram's experiment, when we can see everything we need to know about obedience and human cruelty just by observing real life?
I thought it was pretty interesting when Ross made the point that he gave his students at Stanford some very important instructions on how to prepare for class. He knew that this information would be ignored even though he ordered it and made it clear that it was very important. He examined their disobedience, so he wanted to prove that Milgram's experiment wasn't just about obedience since his students did not obey his instructions. Instead, he believed that its about the situation that your in. If you don't want to do something, then you don't have to. People do it everyday, they don't pay taxes and don't do what their bosses or teachers tell them to. It really does depend on the situation and I agree with what Ross said. However, I do think Milgram's experiment was a good point that people will actually commit a crime if they are told that they won't be held responsible, yet they still go through with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what youre saying and these types of influences make an individual question their own values.
DeleteI think that if Milgram hadn't done his experiment, someone else would have. It was kind of inevitable. Many people have wondered if the Nazi's were just being obedient or if they were all heartless killers. Were all the Nazi's cold blooded, or were they just like the teachers in Milgram's experiment simply following orders, even if their own personal morals weren't comfortable with the situation.
ReplyDeleteI think the Nazi's were cold blooded and heartless killers because they killed so many people like it was no big deal. Clearly it was a big deal because we lost so many people that could have added to this society with there generation, but no Nazi's had to kill and be so heartless.
DeleteObviously the majority of nazi's were heartless killers because even if they didn't want to, in the end they still killed people. But it's unfair to say all of them were cause i'm sure that's not true. I'm sure there were people who stayed loyal to being a nazi but found a way to not have the job of killing jewish people.
DeleteI agree with that the situation and circumstances leading up to the situation greatly influence the person's willingness to obey.
ReplyDeleteroman v
ReplyDeleteI just think that milgram's experiment just kind of showed peoples true breaking points. Just kind of how far people would actually go in a specific situation. I believe each person has a different breaking point and that is what seperates leaders from followers.
Kaitlyn Carlson
DeleteI aggre, each person is different and will deal with certain situations differently.I think how a person will respond depends upon the situation and how that certain person is.
Robert K.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Milgram experiment was definitely not a waste, I find the evidence that it showed us something in the fact that people were surprised by the results and that even today it is discussed.
I think that this experiment was very interesting because it showed us surprising results. It's easy for me to say that they should have stood up to the experimenter giving the orders, since I wasn't in that situation. But I like to believe that I would stand up against hurting someone. I know no one was hurt, but it seemed like a majority of the people in the experiment didn't know that. I strongly feel that people should decide beforehand how they'll respond to someone being "tortured."
ReplyDeleteroman v
Deletedo you suppose that the results would have been the same if the learners knew before hand that people wouldnt be getting "tortured"?
I think Milgrams experiment was good. Some people hate on it but it was a pretty accurate test on how people obey. Something as simple as switching a switch to hurt someone and they continued to do it for whatever reason. It could have been because they felt like they needed to obey or other reasons but the fact is the majority continued to do it. Can you guys think of a better experiment to test obedience?
ReplyDeleteWhen we are criticized do we challenge are selves or do we just take the punches a keep on moving?
ReplyDeleteI think with milgrams experiment no one actually saw through it because any normal person would have thought it was a waste of time and that he was crazy.
ReplyDeleteThe Milgram experiment is very interesting and has fascinating insights in how peer pressure can affect all of us.
ReplyDelete