⚡ Milgram’s Experiment Explained: Why People Obey Harmful Commands

 


Introduction

Why do people obey harmful commands, even when those commands conflict with their morals? This question drove psychologist Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s. His groundbreaking experiment revealed the unsettling truth: ordinary individuals will often obey authority, even when it leads to harming others (Milgram, 1963).

This article explains Milgram’s obedience experiment, its findings, criticisms, and what it teaches us about human behavior today.

H2: Background and Motivation

After World War II, many perpetrators of atrocities defended themselves by saying: “I was just following orders.” Milgram wanted to understand if obedience to authority was unique to certain cultures or a universal psychological tendency (American Psychological Association, n.d.).

H2: The Experiment Design

H3: Participants

  • 40 male volunteers recruited from New Haven, Connecticut.

  • They believed they were part of a study on memory and learning.

H3: The Setup

  • A participant (the “teacher”) was instructed to give electric shocks to a “learner” (an actor) whenever they made mistakes.

  • The shocks ranged from 15 volts to 450 volts, marked with warnings like “Danger: Severe Shock.”

H3: The Role of Authority

  • The experimenter, wearing a lab coat, instructed the “teacher” to continue regardless of the learner’s screams, pleas, or silence.

H2: Key Findings

  • 65% of participants administered the maximum 450 volts, despite believing they were seriously harming another person (Milgram, 1963).

  • Many showed signs of stress — sweating, trembling, nervous laughter — but still obeyed.

  • Obedience was higher when authority was close and seemed legitimate, and lower when others disobeyed.

H2: Why Did Participants Obey?

H3: Authority and Legitimacy

The presence of an experimenter in a lab coat conveyed expertise, making participants feel the orders were justified (Bickman, 1974).

H3: Diffusion of Responsibility

Participants believed the authority figure bore responsibility, not themselves.

H3: Gradual Escalation

Starting with small shocks made it easier to continue step by step.

H3: Social Pressure

Participants did not want to disappoint the authority or disrupt the experiment.

H2: Variations of the Experiment

Milgram tested different conditions:

  • Proximity: Obedience dropped when the learner was physically closer.

  • Authority Distance: Obedience decreased when the experimenter gave orders by phone.

  • Peer Influence: If others refused, participants were far more likely to resist (Milgram, 1974).

H2: Criticisms of Milgram’s Experiment

  1. Ethical Concerns

    • Participants were deceived and experienced severe stress.

    • Critics argue this violated principles of informed consent (Baumrind, 1964).

  2. Ecological Validity

    • Some argue a laboratory setting doesn’t reflect real-world behavior.

  3. Cultural Context

    • Replications in different countries showed varying levels of obedience, suggesting culture also plays a role.

H2: Real-World Implications

H3: Military and War Crimes

Milgram’s results explain why soldiers sometimes follow unlawful orders, later claiming they were “just obeying.”

H3: Workplaces

Employees may comply with unethical corporate practices due to pressure from authority.

H3: Healthcare

Medical staff sometimes obey harmful instructions from senior doctors out of hierarchy and trust.

H2: Lessons for Modern Society

  • Encourage critical thinking in schools and workplaces.

  • Train employees and soldiers on ethical decision-making.

  • Build cultures where questioning authority is seen as responsible, not rebellious.

FAQ

Q1: What was Milgram’s experiment about?
It studied obedience to authority by asking participants to administer shocks to others under orders.

Q2: What did Milgram find?
That 65% of people obey authority figures even when harming others.

Q3: Why is the study controversial?
Because of ethical concerns — deception and psychological stress on participants.

Q4: Is obedience always bad?
No. Obedience maintains social order but becomes harmful when it overrides morality.

Q5: Are Milgram’s findings still relevant?
Yes. They continue to explain behavior in military, workplace, and healthcare contexts.

Conclusion

Milgram’s experiment remains one of the most powerful demonstrations of obedience to authority. It revealed that ordinary individuals, under pressure, could commit harmful actions simply because they were told to. While criticized ethically, the study’s lessons are invaluable: authority must be balanced with morality, and individuals must feel empowered to resist harmful orders.

At ProximaCare, we believe that psychology can shed light on human behavior, helping people make informed, ethical choices in their everyday lives.

📚 References

  1. Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371–378.

  2. Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority. Harper & Row.

  3. Baumrind, D. (1964). Some thoughts on ethics of research: After reading Milgram’s “Behavioral study of obedience.” American Psychologist, 19(6), 421–423.

  4. Bickman, L. (1974). The social power of a uniform. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 4(1), 47–61.

  5. American Psychological Association (APA). (n.d.). Obedience and Authority. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/education-career/undergrad/obedience

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Did People Obey Harmful Orders?

  When we think about human behavior, one of the most puzzling questions is this: Why do ordinary people sometimes follow harmful orders, even when they know it could hurt others? This question became urgent in the 1950s and 1960s, shortly after the horrors of World War II. During the Nuremberg Trials, many Nazi officers defended their crimes by saying they were “just following orders.” Psychologists wanted to understand if obedience to authority was something unique to those individuals, or if it was part of human nature itself. In this context, a young social psychologist named Stanley Milgram at Yale University designed one of the most famous — and controversial — psychology experiments in history: the Milgram Experiment on obedience to authority . The Milgram study was not just another psychology experiment. It became a cultural milestone, shaking our understanding of human morality, free will, and the power of authority. Even today, more than sixty years later, it is still...
Read more

🧬✨ Precision Medicine & Personalized Healthcare: Tailoring Treatment to You

 Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all medicine . Today, science is moving toward precision medicine — an approach that customizes treatments based on an individual’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle. 🌍💡 By embracing personalized healthcare , doctors can deliver the right treatment, at the right time, to the right patient. 🔎 What is Precision Medicine? Precision medicine is a medical model that uses detailed information about a person’s DNA, biomarkers, and health history to design tailored treatments. Instead of relying on general guidelines, doctors analyze: Genetic makeup 🧬 – understanding how your body responds to certain drugs. Lifestyle factors 🏃 – diet, exercise, and daily habits. Environmental influences 🌿 – exposure to toxins, pollutants, or stress. This helps ensure that treatments are safer, more effective, and highly personalized . 🌟 Benefits of Personalized Healthcare The shift to personalized care offers multiple advantages: Fewe...
Read more

he Future of Wearable Health Devices: How Continuous Glucose Monitors Are Changing Healthcare

  he Future of Wearable Health Devices: How Continuous Glucose Monitors Are Changing Healthcare (Meta Description: Discover how wearable health devices and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are revolutionizing modern healthcare. Learn about their benefits, top brands, AI integration, and the future of digital health.) Introduction Imagine a tiny device on your arm or wrist that constantly checks your vital signs, warns you of potential health issues before they become serious, and even connects directly to your doctor. Wearable health devices—smartwatches, fitness trackers, and especially Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) —are transforming the way we think about healthcare. From tracking blood sugar levels in real time to monitoring heart rate, sleep, and stress, these devices are empowering people to take control of their health like never before. What Are Wearable Health Devices? Wearable health devices are electronic gadgets designed to be worn on the body—usually on t...
Read more