Reproduction Of The Milgram Study
Have you ever had a police officer tell you to do something and you did it without even considering otherwise? From an early age, we are conditioned to respond immediately when an authority figure gives us an order. For this reason, I chose an article about a reproduction of the Milgram study that took place in 1963 and established that people will go to extreme lengths to obey authority. The Holocaust was the motivation behind Milgram’s study and we are all knowledgeable of the atrocities ordered by Hitler (Simplepsychology, n,d.).
Would you deliver a shock to another human being? That question is the foundation of the study done by researchers at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Poland (Simplepsychology, n,d.).
Based on the previous study in 1963 at Yale University, participants were willing to shock others, therefore researchers wanted to learn how Polish residents would react in a similar study. Unlike the Yale study, which used only males, the Polish study participants included forty males and forty females, of varying ages, who were given ten buttons to press with differing levels of shocks associated with each button. Shock levels were not set as high as levels used in the Yale study, but participants in both studies were unaware that shocks were not actually delivered when they pushed the buttons. In particular, these studies are an example of obedience and conformity, based on how we change behavior to obey an authority figure. Choosing to disregard our natural instincts and perform an act that goes against what we consider altruistic can lead to internal conflict and eventually mental stress. without a doubt, social influence can be a factor when we conform to something we would normally refuse to participate in.
Limitations
Based on the results, participants were more than willing to deliver shocks when instructed to do so, which was similar to the results of the previous Yale study. While the Yale study was limited to men, the Poland study incorporated men and women, yet the study was limited to 80 participants. Interestingly enough, the number of participants willing to shock a female was significantly less than those willing to deliver the shock to a male. Personally, I believe more participants of both sexes would have been beneficial to this study. Conceivably including groups in the study to see how groupthink influences the inclination to refuse shocking female participants, chiefly because members could modify their thinking to conform to the group.
My Opinion
Have you ever considered how you would react in a situation that goes against everything you believe in? Most people will not until they are forced to make split-second decisions which are influenced by the circumstances. The power of an authority figure can change our behavior and expectation of a reward or punishment can be compelling stimuli. In my experience, I have been true to my empathetic nature and will continue to avoid harming others to the best of my abilities. I do believe authority figures can persuade someone to go against their character and an innate human trait is to seek approval which is beneficial to the authority figure.
Conclusion
While there are possible benefits to society with this type of study on human nature and obedience to authority, take a moment to consider the ethical complications of these studies. By using immoral methods to convince participants, are you receiving a true picture of what someone would do in a particular situation? Unquestionably, this type of study is not ethical and can cause mental distress in participants if not handled in the appropriate manner.
Would you deliver a shock to another human being? That question is the foundation of the study done by researchers at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Poland (Simplepsychology, n,d.).
Based on the previous study in 1963 at Yale University, participants were willing to shock others, therefore researchers wanted to learn how Polish residents would react in a similar study. Unlike the Yale study, which used only males, the Polish study participants included forty males and forty females, of varying ages, who were given ten buttons to press with differing levels of shocks associated with each button. Shock levels were not set as high as levels used in the Yale study, but participants in both studies were unaware that shocks were not actually delivered when they pushed the buttons. In particular, these studies are an example of obedience and conformity, based on how we change behavior to obey an authority figure. Choosing to disregard our natural instincts and perform an act that goes against what we consider altruistic can lead to internal conflict and eventually mental stress. without a doubt, social influence can be a factor when we conform to something we would normally refuse to participate in.
Limitations
Based on the results, participants were more than willing to deliver shocks when instructed to do so, which was similar to the results of the previous Yale study. While the Yale study was limited to men, the Poland study incorporated men and women, yet the study was limited to 80 participants. Interestingly enough, the number of participants willing to shock a female was significantly less than those willing to deliver the shock to a male. Personally, I believe more participants of both sexes would have been beneficial to this study. Conceivably including groups in the study to see how groupthink influences the inclination to refuse shocking female participants, chiefly because members could modify their thinking to conform to the group.
My Opinion
Have you ever considered how you would react in a situation that goes against everything you believe in? Most people will not until they are forced to make split-second decisions which are influenced by the circumstances. The power of an authority figure can change our behavior and expectation of a reward or punishment can be compelling stimuli. In my experience, I have been true to my empathetic nature and will continue to avoid harming others to the best of my abilities. I do believe authority figures can persuade someone to go against their character and an innate human trait is to seek approval which is beneficial to the authority figure.
Conclusion
While there are possible benefits to society with this type of study on human nature and obedience to authority, take a moment to consider the ethical complications of these studies. By using immoral methods to convince participants, are you receiving a true picture of what someone would do in a particular situation? Unquestionably, this type of study is not ethical and can cause mental distress in participants if not handled in the appropriate manner.