The Miligram Shock Experiment - Experiment Demonstrates the Deadly Power of Social Compliance
How Did the Study Work? - Over the course of two years, Milgram recruited men to participate in a study. Milgram created a few variations of the study, but in general, they involved the participant, a “learner,” and an experimenter. The participant acted as a “teacher,” reading out words to the learner. The learner would have to repeat the words back to the participant. If the learner got it wrong, the teacher had to deliver an electric shock.
These shocks increased in voltage. At first, the shocks were around 15 volts – just a mild sensation. But the shocks reached up to 450 volts, which is extremely dangerous. (Of course, these shocks weren’t real. The learner was an actor who played along with the study.)
The experimenter encouraged the participants to administer the shocks whenever the learner was incorrect. As the voltages increased, some participants resisted. In some variations of the study, the experimenter would urge the participants to administer the shocks and command them.
In some variations of the study, the participant would beg the participant not to administer the shocks, complaining of a heart problem. The participant would even fake death once the highest voltages were reached. The results are sad.
65% of people who shocked others (actors) followed instructions of people in white lab coats to shock people into possible death.
35% of people who shocked others refused to shock people (actors) when ordered to do so by people in white lab coats.
65% of people are sheep
35% of people will NOT follow orders if they think they are wrong.
The Miligram Shock Experiment - Experiment Demonstrates the Deadly Power of Social Compliance
How Did the Study Work? - Over the course of two years, Milgram recruited men to participate in a study. Milgram created a few variations of the study, but in general, they involved the participant, a “learner,” and an experimenter. The participant acted as a “teacher,” reading out words to the learner. The learner would have to repeat the words back to the participant. If the learner got it wrong, the teacher had to deliver an electric shock.
These shocks increased in voltage. At first, the shocks were around 15 volts – just a mild sensation. But the shocks reached up to 450 volts, which is extremely dangerous. (Of course, these shocks weren’t real. The learner was an actor who played along with the study.)
The experimenter encouraged the participants to administer the shocks whenever the learner was incorrect. As the voltages increased, some participants resisted. In some variations of the study, the experimenter would urge the participants to administer the shocks and command them.
In some variations of the study, the participant would beg the participant not to administer the shocks, complaining of a heart problem. The participant would even fake death once the highest voltages were reached. The results are sad.
65% of people who shocked others (actors) followed instructions of people in white lab coats to shock people into possible death.
35% of people who shocked others refused to shock people (actors) when ordered to do so by people in white lab coats.
65% of people are sheep
35% of people will not follow orders if they think they are wrong.
The Miligram Shock Experiment - Experiment Demonstrates the Deadly Power of Social Compliance
65% of people who shocked others (actors) followed instructions of people in white lab coats to shock people into possible death.
35% of people who shocked others refused to shock people (actors) when ordered to do so by people in white lab coats.
65% of people are sheep
35% of people will not follow orders if they think they are wrong.