Question

Define the term obedience and discuss the results and implications of Milgram’s experiments on obedience. Discuss what implications these results have on our understanding of human nature

Answer 1

Obedience is agreeing, accepting and cooperating to a demand from an authority figure. Milgram experiment was conducted to test the level of obedience to authorities in people. This was conducted because most of the soldiers, especially the German soldiers during the World War, explained that they were just obeying the authority. People were segregated into two teams, the teacher and the learner. The learners were given a word and choose a possible pairing word from four choices. Whenever the participant made a mistake, the participant was instructed to continue. There were four levels the experimenter used with increasing intensity in demand. Many participants continued till the last prompt and highest voltage of shock. So, it was proven that people comply or obey if they foresee a punishment.

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