Behavioral Study of Obedience
Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral Study of Obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371-378.
Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods and Statistics, PSY301, Pacific University, Oregon
April 4, 2023
Milgram’s 1963 study was conducted as social commentary on the strength of obedience, and its connections to recent atrocities in the author’s era. Particularly, Milgram made connections between the fascist state of Nazi Germany and the element of fear-driven compliance. The study utilized a technique to test obedience that involved a naive subject administering false shocks to an actor, while the researcher continually pushed the subject to administer higher powered shocks. With this, the subject was increasing the power level from light shock to “XXX” level shock meant to injure or kill the actor. Continue reading “Milgram (1963) Critique: “Behavioral Study of Obedience””