Question

1. What evidence did Milgram have to cause him to make this statement? (Be specific referring to examples/facts from Milgram's findings. There are many facts about Milgram’s research that are not in your text – search other sources to get as much detail about the study as you can.)

2. What do you think of Milgram's study in general? That is, why was it so controversial? Do you think it could be conducted today?

3. What were the factors that contributed to getting a subject to obey? (be specific and refer to the research for your reply)

4. What factors helped a subject to defy authority? (again, refer to the research for your reply)

5. What does this research tell us about our human condition? That is, do you think conformity/obedience like this could occur in the real world? Has it happened in places other than Nazi Germany?

6. Do you agree with Milgram's statement? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Ans. 1

In the experiment the Milgram tried to understand the behaviour changes and learning process during the punishment threats. The emotional stress and threat of punishment strongly influences the process of obedience.

Ans. 2

The Milgram study is important in the perspective of obedience behaviour and this study performed during case of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, so the study was important to understand the level of obedience even we know the ethical issues to obey. If the study conducted today we will able to understand the reason of terrorism and influence of world leaders.

Ans. 3

In the research, Milgram use some specific factor to prepare obedience, the punishment threat and emotional stress are most important factors to make the obedience behaviour. The level of threat made emotional stress and changed the behaviour.

Ans. 4

To defy authority, a person need strong moral behaviour and understanding of condition. If a person not agree to obey, it is important to justify the reason of willing.

Ans. 5

The human condition during strong life threat get defensive so they start to obey, in the case of Nazi Germany, the leader showed a model and their follower had a strong life threat so they decided to obey even they know the morality and humanistic behaviour.

Ans. 6

The Milgram stated in social way and I think his statement is agreeable because according to experiences and research we can say the obedience has a positive co relation with threats and confusion.