Behavioral Study of Obedience

By Stanley Milgram (1963)

This study examined destructive obedience in a laboratory setting by ordering subjects to administer electric shocks to a victim within a learning experiment context.

Key Elements of the Study

• Shock Generator:

  • Consisted of 30 switches ranging from "Slight Shock" to "Danger: Severe Shock".
  • The victim was a confederate of the experimenter (E).

• Dependent Variable:

  • Maximum shock level a subject (S) administered before refusing to continue was recorded.

• Participant Reactions:

  • Profuse sweating, trembling, and stuttering were common.
  • Some exhibited nervous laughter and even uncontrollable seizures.

• Results:

  • 26 subjects fully obeyed and administered the maximum shock.
  • 14 subjects stopped after the victim protested.

Importance of Obedience

• Societal Role:

  • Obedience is essential for societal function and authority systems.
  • Historical instances, like WWII atrocities, show obedience to authority can lead to harm.

• Productive Aspects:

  • Obedience also aids in charity, kindness, and societal order.

General Procedure

• Setup:

  • A naive subject was ordered to administer shocks.
  • The shock generator had voltage levels from 15 to 450 volts.
  • Standardized responses came from the victim.

• Execution:

  • Commands given in a learning experiment format.
  • Subject continued administering shocks until refusal.

• Quantitative Measurement:

  • Degree of obedience quantified by maximum shock level delivered.

Related Studies

• Philosophic analyses on obedience by Arendt and Weber.
• Studies on authoritarianism by Adorno and others.

Methodology

• Subjects:

  • 40 males aged 20-50 from diverse backgrounds were recruited.
  • Believed they were part of a memory study at Yale.

• Experiment Setting:

  • Conducted at Yale University.
  • Experimenter: 31-year-old male, stern appearance.
  • Victim: 47-year-old mild-mannered accountant.

• Procedure Details:

  • Subjects were told shocks, though painful, caused no permanent damage.
  • Rigged drawing determined roles of teacher (subject) and learner (victim).
  • Subjects applied increasing shock levels upon incorrect answers.

• Feedback and Instructions:

  • Victim pounded on the wall at 300 volts as a sign of protest.
  • Experimenter gave standardized prompts to encourage continuation.

Results and Discussion

• Preliminary Predictions:

  • Yale seniors predicted low obedience; only a few would administer maximum shocks.
  • Actual results showed higher obedience levels.

• Subject Reactions:

  • Many subjects showed extreme tension and discomfort.
  • Obedient subjects continued under stress, while others refused to proceed beyond certain shock levels.

• Key Findings:

  • Obedience was unexpectedly high.
  • Tension in subjects was considerable, showing conflict between personal morals and authority orders.

• Factors Influencing Obedience:

  • Authority of the experiment setting (Yale University).
  • Perceived legitimacy of the purpose (scientific study).
  • Subject's initial voluntary participation and perceived obligation.

• Conclusion:

  • Obedience is influenced by specific situational factors and authority perceptions.
  • Further studies could explore these influences and test them under varied conditions.