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Milgramexperiment
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheMilgramexperimentonobediencetoauthorityfigureswasa
seriesofsocialpsychologyexperimentsconductedbyYale
UniversitypsychologistStanleyMilgram.Theymeasuredthe
willingnessofstudyparticipantstoobeyanauthorityfigurewho
instructedthemtoperformactsconflictingwiththeirpersonal
conscience.Milgramfirstdescribedhisresearchin1963inan
articlepublishedintheJournalofAbnormalandSocial
Psychology[1]andlaterdiscussedhisfindingsingreaterdepthinhis
1974book,ObediencetoAuthority:AnExperimentalView.[2]
TheexperimentsbeganinJuly1961,inthebasementofLinsly
ChittendenHallatYaleUniversity,[3]threemonthsafterthestartof
thetrialofGermanNaziwarcriminalAdolfEichmanninJerusalem.
Milgramdevisedhispsychologicalstudytoanswerthepopular
questionatthatparticulartime:"CoulditbethatEichmannandhis
millionaccomplicesintheHolocaustwerejustfollowingorders?
Couldwecallthemallaccomplices?"[4]Theexperimentshavebeen
repeatedmanytimesinthefollowingyearswithconsistentresults
withindifferingsocieties,althoughnotwiththesamepercentages
aroundtheglobe.[5]

Contents
1Theexperiment
2Results
3Criticism
3.1Ethics
3.2ApplicabilitytotheJewishHolocaust
3.3Chargesofdatamanipulation
4Interpretations
4.1Alternativeinterpretations
5Replicationsandvariations
5.1Milgram'svariations
5.2Replications
5.3Othervariations
6Mediadepictions
7Seealso
8Notes
9References
10Furtherreading
11Externallinks

Theexperimenter(E)ordersthe
teacher(T),thesubjectofthe
experiment,togivewhatthelatter
believesarepainfulelectricshocks
toalearner(L),whoisactually
anactorandconfederate.The
subjectbelievesthatforeach
wronganswer,thelearnerwas
receivingactualelectricshocks,
thoughinrealitytherewereno
suchpunishments.Beingseparated
fromthesubject,theconfederate
setupataperecorderintegrated
withtheelectroshockgenerator,
whichplayedprerecordedsounds
foreachshocklevel. [1]

Theexperiment
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Threeindividualswereinvolved:theonerunningthe
experiment,thesubjectoftheexperiment(avolunteer),and
aconfederatepretendingtobeavolunteer.Thesethree
peoplefillthreedistinctroles:theExperimenter(an
authoritativerole),theTeacher(aroleintendedtoobeythe
ordersoftheExperimenter),andtheLearner(therecipient
ofstimulusfromtheTeacher).Thesubjectandtheactor
bothdrewslipsofpapertodeterminetheirroles,but
unknowntothesubject,bothslipssaid"teacher".Theactor
wouldalwaysclaimtohavedrawntheslipthatread
"learner",thusguaranteeingthatthesubjectwouldalways
bethe"teacher".Atthispoint,the"teacher"and"learner"
wereseparatedintodifferentroomswheretheycould
communicatebutnotseeeachother.Inoneversionofthe
experiment,theconfederatewassuretomentiontothe
participantthathehadaheartcondition.[1]
Atsomepointpriortotheactualtest,the"teacher"was
givenasampleelectricshockfromtheelectroshock
generatorinordertoexperiencefirsthandwhattheshock
thatthe"learner"wouldsupposedlyreceiveduringthe
experimentwouldfeellike.The"teacher"wasthengivena
listofwordpairsthathewastoteachthelearner.The
MilgramExperimentadvertisement
teacherbeganbyreadingthelistofwordpairstothelearner.
Theteacherwouldthenreadthefirstwordofeachpairand
readfourpossibleanswers.Thelearnerwouldpressabuttontoindicatehisresponse.Iftheanswerwas
incorrect,theteacherwouldadministerashocktothelearner,withthevoltageincreasingin15volt
incrementsforeachwronganswer.Ifcorrect,theteacherwouldreadthenextwordpair.[1]
Thesubjectsbelievedthatforeachwronganswer,thelearnerwasreceivingactualshocks.Inreality,
therewerenoshocks.Aftertheconfederatewasseparatedfromthesubject,theconfederatesetupatape
recorderintegratedwiththeelectroshockgenerator,whichplayedprerecordedsoundsforeachshock
level.Afteranumberofvoltagelevelincreases,theactorstartedtobangonthewallthatseparatedhim
fromthesubject.Afterseveraltimesbangingonthewallandcomplainingabouthisheartcondition,all
responsesbythelearnerwouldcease.[1]
Atthispoint,manypeopleindicatedtheirdesiretostoptheexperimentandcheckonthelearner.Some
testsubjectspausedat135voltsandbegantoquestionthepurposeoftheexperiment.Mostcontinued
afterbeingassuredthattheywouldnotbeheldresponsible.Afewsubjectsbegantolaughnervouslyor
exhibitothersignsofextremestressoncetheyheardthescreamsofpaincomingfromthelearner.[1]
Ifatanytimethesubjectindicatedhisdesiretohalttheexperiment,hewasgivenasuccessionofverbal
prodsbytheexperimenter,inthisorder:[1]
1. Pleasecontinue.
2. Theexperimentrequiresthatyoucontinue.
3. Itisabsolutelyessentialthatyoucontinue.
4. Youhavenootherchoice,youmustgoon.

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Ifthesubjectstillwishedtostopafterallfoursuccessiveverbalprods,theexperimentwashalted.
Otherwise,itwashaltedafterthesubjecthadgiventhemaximum450voltshockthreetimesin
succession.[1]
Theexperimenteralsogavespecialprodsiftheteachermadespecificcomments.Iftheteacherasked
whetherthelearnermightsufferpermanentphysicalharm,theexperimenterreplied,"Althoughthe
shocksmaybepainful,thereisnopermanenttissuedamage,sopleasegoon."Iftheteachersaidthatthe
learnerclearlywantstostop,theexperimenterreplied,"Whetherthelearnerlikesitornot,youmustgo
onuntilhehaslearnedallthewordpairscorrectly,sopleasegoon."

Results
Beforeconductingtheexperiment,MilgrampolledfourteenYaleUniversitysenioryearpsychology
majorstopredictthebehaviorof100hypotheticalteachers.Allofthepollrespondentsbelievedthat
onlyaverysmallfractionofteachers(therangewasfromzeroto3outof100,withanaverageof1.2)
wouldbepreparedtoinflictthemaximumvoltage.Milgramalsoinformallypolledhiscolleaguesand
foundthatthey,too,believedveryfewsubjectswouldprogressbeyondaverystrongshock.[1]Milgram
alsopolledfortypsychiatristsfromamedicalschool,andtheybelievedthatbythetenthshock,whenthe
victimdemandstobefree,mostsubjectswouldstoptheexperiment.Theypredictedthatbythe300volt
shock,whenthevictimrefusestoanswer,only3.73percentofthesubjectswouldstillcontinueand,
theybelievedthat"onlyalittleoveronetenthofonepercentofthesubjectswouldadministerthe
highestshockontheboard."[6]
InMilgram'sfirstsetofexperiments,65percent(26of40)ofexperimentparticipantsadministeredthe
experiment'sfinalmassive450voltshock,[1]thoughmanywereveryuncomfortabledoingsoatsome
point,everyparticipantpausedandquestionedtheexperimentsomesaidtheywouldrefundthemoney
theywerepaidforparticipatingintheexperiment.Throughouttheexperiment,subjectsdisplayed
varyingdegreesoftensionandstress.Subjectsweresweating,trembling,stuttering,bitingtheirlips,
groaning,diggingtheirfingernailsintotheirskin,andsomewereevenhavingnervouslaughingfitsor
seizures.[1]
Milgramsummarizedtheexperimentinhis1974article,"ThePerilsofObedience",writing:
Thelegalandphilosophicaspectsofobedienceareofenormousimportance,buttheysay
verylittleabouthowmostpeoplebehaveinconcretesituations.Isetupasimpleexperiment
atYaleUniversitytotesthowmuchpainanordinarycitizenwouldinflictonanotherperson
simplybecausehewasorderedtobyanexperimentalscientist.Starkauthoritywaspitted
againstthesubjects'[participants']strongestmoralimperativesagainsthurtingothers,and,
withthesubjects'[participants']earsringingwiththescreamsofthevictims,authoritywon
moreoftenthannot.Theextremewillingnessofadultstogotoalmostanylengthsonthe
commandofanauthorityconstitutesthechieffindingofthestudyandthefactmost
urgentlydemandingexplanation.
Ordinarypeople,simplydoingtheirjobs,andwithoutanyparticularhostilityontheirpart,
canbecomeagentsinaterribledestructiveprocess.Moreover,evenwhenthedestructive
effectsoftheirworkbecomepatentlyclear,andtheyareaskedtocarryoutactions
incompatiblewithfundamentalstandardsofmorality,relativelyfewpeoplehavethe
resourcesneededtoresistauthority.[7]
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TheoriginalSimulatedShockGeneratorandEventRecorder,orshockbox,islocatedintheArchivesof
theHistoryofAmericanPsychology.
Later,Milgramandotherpsychologistsperformedvariationsoftheexperimentthroughouttheworld,
withsimilarresults.[8]Milgramlaterinvestigatedtheeffectoftheexperiment'slocaleonobedience
levelsbyholdinganexperimentinanunregistered,backstreetofficeinabustlingcity,asopposedtoat
Yale,arespectableuniversity.Thelevelofobedience,"althoughsomewhatreduced,wasnot
significantlylower."Whatmademoreofadifferencewastheproximityofthe"learner"andthe
experimenter.Therewerealsovariationstestedinvolvinggroups.
ThomasBlassoftheUniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCountyperformedametaanalysisontheresults
ofrepeatedperformancesoftheexperiment.Hefoundthatthepercentageofparticipantswhoare
preparedtoinflictfatalvoltagesremainsremarkablyconstant,6166percent,regardlessoftimeor
country.[9][10]
Theparticipantswhorefusedtoadministerthefinalshocksneitherinsistedthattheexperimentitselfbe
terminated,norlefttheroomtocheckthehealthofthevictimwithoutrequestingpermissiontoleave,as
perMilgram'snotesandrecollections,whenfellowpsychologistPhilipZimbardoaskedhimaboutthat
point.[11]
MilgramcreatedadocumentaryfilmtitledObedienceshowingtheexperimentanditsresults.Healso
producedaseriesoffivesocialpsychologyfilms,someofwhichdealtwithhisexperiments.[12]

Criticism
Ethics
TheMilgramShockExperimentraisedquestionsabouttheresearchethicsofscientificexperimentation
becauseoftheextremeemotionalstressandinflictedinsightsufferedbytheparticipants.InMilgram's
defense,84percentofformerparticipantssurveyedlatersaidtheywere"glad"or"veryglad"tohave
participated15percentchoseneutralresponses(92%ofallformerparticipantsresponding).[13]Many
laterwroteexpressingthanks.Milgramrepeatedlyreceivedoffersofassistanceandrequeststojoinhis
stafffromformerparticipants.Sixyearslater(attheheightoftheVietnamWar),oneoftheparticipants
intheexperimentsentcorrespondencetoMilgram,explainingwhyhewasgladtohaveparticipated
despitethestress:
WhileIwasasubjectin1964,thoughIbelievedthatIwashurtingsomeone,Iwastotally
unawareofwhyIwasdoingso.Fewpeopleeverrealizewhentheyareactingaccordingto
theirownbeliefsandwhentheyaremeeklysubmittingtoauthorityTopermitmyselfto
bedraftedwiththeunderstandingthatIamsubmittingtoauthority'sdemandtodo
somethingverywrongwouldmakemefrightenedofmyselfIamfullypreparedtogoto
jailifIamnotgrantedConscientiousObjectorstatus.Indeed,itistheonlycourseIcould
taketobefaithfultowhatIbelieve.Myonlyhopeisthatmembersofmyboardactequally
accordingtotheirconscience[14][15]
Milgramargued(in"ObediencetoAuthority:AnExperimentalView")thattheethicalcriticism
provokedbyhisexperimentswasbecausehisfindingsweredisturbingandrevealedunwelcometruths
abouthumannature.Othershavearguedthattheethicaldebatehasdivertedattentionfrommoreserious
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problemswiththeexperiment'smethodology.AustralianpsychologistGinaPerryfoundanunpublished
paperinMilgram'sarchivesthatshowsMilgram'sownconcernwithhowbelievabletheexperimental
setupwastosubjectsinvolved.Milgramaskedhisassistanttocompileabreakdownofthenumberof
participantswhohadseenthroughtheexperiments.Thisunpublishedanalysisindicatedthatmany
subjectssuspectedthattheexperimentwasahoax,[16]afindingthatcastsdoubtontheveracityofhis
results.InthejournalJewishCurrents,JosephDimow,aparticipantinthe1961experimentatYale
University,wroteabouthisearlywithdrawalasa"teacher",suspicious"thatthewholeexperimentwas
designedtoseeifordinaryAmericanswouldobeyimmoralorders,asmanyGermanshaddoneduring
theNaziperiod."[17]

ApplicabilitytotheJewishHolocaust
Milgramsparkeddirectcriticalresponseinthescientificcommunitybyclaimingthat"acommon
psychologicalprocessiscentrallyinvolvedinboth[hislaboratoryexperimentsandNaziGermany]
events."ProfessorJamesWaller,ChairofHolocaustandGenocideStudiesatKeeneStateCollege,
formerlyChairofWhitworthCollegePsychologyDepartment,expressedtheopinionthatMilgram
experimentsdonotcorrespondwelltotheHolocaustevents:[18]
1. ThesubjectsofMilgramexperiments,wroteJamesWaller(BecomingEvil),wereassuredin
advancethatnopermanentphysicaldamagewouldresultfromtheiractions.However,the
Holocaustperpetratorswerefullyawareoftheirhandsonkillingandmaimingofthevictims.
2. Thelaboratorysubjectsthemselvesdidnotknowtheirvictimsandwerenotmotivatedbyracism.
Ontheotherhand,theHolocaustperpetratorsdisplayedanintensedevaluationofthevictims
throughalifetimeofpersonaldevelopment.
3. Thoseservingpunishmentatthelabwerenotsadists,norhatemongers,andoftenexhibitedgreat
anguishandconflictintheexperiment,unlikethedesignersandexecutionersoftheFinalSolution
(seeHolocausttrials),whohadaclear"goal"ontheirhands,setbeforehand.
4. Theexperimentlastedforanhour,withnotimeforthesubjectstocontemplatetheimplicationsof
theirbehavior.Meanwhile,theHolocaustlastedforyearswithampletimeforamoralassessment
ofallindividualsandorganizationsinvolved.[18]
IntheopinionofThomasBlasswhoistheauthorofascholarlymonographontheexperiment(The
ManWhoShockedTheWorld)publishedin2004thehistoricalevidencepertainingtoactionsofthe
Holocaustperpetratorsspeakslouderthanwords:
MyownviewisthatMilgram'sapproachdoesnotprovideafullyadequateexplanationof
theHolocaust.Whileitmaywellaccountforthedutifuldestructivenessofthedispassionate
bureaucratwhomayhaveshippedJewstoAuschwitzwiththesamedegreeofroutinization
aspotatoestoBremerhaven,itfallsshortwhenonetriestoapplyittothemorezealous,
inventive,andhatedrivenatrocitiesthatalsocharacterizedtheHolocaust.[19]

Chargesofdatamanipulation
Afteraninvestigationofthetest,AustralianpsychologistGinaPerryclaimedthatMilgramhad
manipulatedhisresults."Overall,overhalfdisobeyed,"Perryclaimed.[20]

Interpretations
ProfessorMilgramelaboratedtwotheories:
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Thefirstisthetheoryofconformism,basedonSolomonAschconformityexperiments,describing
thefundamentalrelationshipbetweenthegroupofreferenceandtheindividualperson.Asubject
whohasneitherabilitynorexpertisetomakedecisions,especiallyinacrisis,willleavedecision
makingtothegroupanditshierarchy.Thegroupistheperson'sbehavioralmodel.
Thesecondistheagenticstatetheory,wherein,perMilgram,"theessenceofobedienceconsists
inthefactthatapersoncomestoviewthemselvesastheinstrumentforcarryingoutanother
person'swishes,andtheythereforenolongerseethemselvesasresponsiblefortheiractions.Once
thiscriticalshiftofviewpointhasoccurredintheperson,alloftheessentialfeaturesofobedience
follow".[21]

Alternativeinterpretations
InhisbookIrrationalExuberance,YaleFinanceProfessorRobertShillerarguesthatotherfactorsmight
bepartiallyabletoexplaintheMilgramExperiments:
[People]havelearnedthatwhenexpertstellthemsomethingisallright,itprobablyis,even
ifitdoesnotseemso.(Infact,itisworthnotingthatinthiscasetheexperimenterwas
indeedcorrect:itwasallrighttocontinuegivingthe"shocks"eventhoughmostofthe
subjectsdidnotsuspectthereason.)[22]
Ina2006experiment,acomputerizedavatarwasusedinplaceofthelearnerreceivingelectricalshocks.
Althoughtheparticipantsadministeringtheshockswereawarethatthelearnerwasunreal,the
experimentersreportedthatparticipantsrespondedtothesituationphysiologically"asifitwerereal".[23]
Fora2009episodeoftheBBCsciencedocumentaryseriesHorizon,theMilgramexperimentwas
replicated.Ofthetwelveparticipants,onlythreerefusedtocontinuetotheendoftheexperiment.
Speakingduringtheepisode,socialpsychologistCliffordStottdiscussedtheinfluencethattheidealism
ofscientificenquiryhadonthevolunteers.Heremarked:"Theinfluenceisideological.It'saboutwhat
theybelievesciencetobe,thatscienceisapositiveproduct,itproducesbeneficialfindingsand
knowledgetosocietythatarehelpfulforsociety.Sothere'sthatsenseofscienceisprovidingsomekind
ofsystemforgood."[24]

Replicationsandvariations
Milgram'svariations
InObediencetoAuthority:AnExperimentalView(1974),Milgramdescribesnineteenvariationsofhis
experiment,someofwhichhadnotbeenpreviouslyreported.
Severalexperimentsvariedtheimmediacyoftheteacherandlearner.Generally,whenthevictim's
physicalimmediacywasincreased,theparticipant'scompliancedecreased.Theparticipant'scompliance
alsodecreasedwhentheauthority'sphysicalimmediacydecreased(Experiments14).Forexample,in
Experiment2,whereparticipantsreceivedtelephonicinstructionsfromtheexperimenter,compliance
decreasedto21percent.Interestingly,someparticipantsdeceivedtheexperimenterbypretendingto
continuetheexperiment.Inthevariationwherethelearner'sphysicalimmediacywasclosest,where
participantshadtoholdthelearner'sarmphysicallyontoashockplate,compliancedecreased.Under
thatcondition,thirtypercentofparticipantscompletedtheexperiment.

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InExperiment8,anallfemalecontingentwasusedpreviously,allparticipantshadbeenmen.
Obediencedidnotsignificantlydiffer,thoughthewomencommunicatedexperiencinghigherlevelsof
stress.
Experiment10tookplaceinamodestofficeinBridgeport,Connecticut,purportingtobethe
commercialentity"ResearchAssociatesofBridgeport"withoutapparentconnectiontoYaleUniversity,
toeliminatetheuniversity'sprestigeasapossiblefactorinfluencingtheparticipants'behavior.Inthose
conditions,obediencedroppedto47.5percent,thoughthedifferencewasnotstatisticallysignificant.
Milgramalsocombinedtheeffectofauthoritywiththatofconformity.Inthoseexperiments,the
participantwasjoinedbyoneortwoadditional"teachers"(alsoactors,likethe"learner").Thebehavior
oftheparticipants'peersstronglyaffectedtheresults.InExperiment17,whentwoadditionalteachers
refusedtocomply,only4of40participantscontinuedintheexperiment.InExperiment18,the
participantperformedasubsidiarytask(readingthequestionsviamicrophoneorrecordingthelearner's
answers)withanother"teacher"whocompliedfully.Inthatvariation,37of40continuedwiththe
experiment.[25]

Replications
AroundthetimeofthereleaseofObediencetoAuthorityin
197374,aversionoftheexperimentwasconductedatLaTrobe
UniversityinAustralia.AsreportedbyPerryinher2012book
BehindtheShockMachine,someoftheparticipantsexperienced
longlastingpsychologicaleffects,possiblyduetothelackof
properdebriefingbytheexperimenter.[26]
In2002,theBritishartistRodDickinsoncreatedTheMilgram
Reenactment,anexactreconstructionofpartsoftheoriginal
experiment,includingtheuniforms,lighting,androomsused.An
audiencewatchedthefourhourperformancethroughoneway
glasswindows.[27][28]Avideoofthisperformancewasfirst
shownattheCCAGalleryinGlasgowin2002.

Avirtualreplicationofthe
experiment,withanavatarservingas
thelearner.

ApartialreplicationoftheexperimentwasstagedbyBritishillusionistDerrenBrownandbroadcaston
UK'sChannel4inTheHeist(2006).[29]
AnotherpartialreplicationoftheexperimentwasconductedbyJerryM.Burgerin2006andbroadcast
onthePrimetimeseriesBasicInstincts.Burgernotedthat"currentstandardsfortheethicaltreatmentof
participantsclearlyplaceMilgram'sstudiesoutofbounds."In2009,Burgerwasabletoreceiveapproval
fromtheinstitutionalreviewboardbymodifyingseveraloftheexperimentalprotocols.[30]Burgerfound
obedienceratesvirtuallyidenticaltothosereportedbyMilgramfoundin196162,evenwhilemeeting
currentethicalregulationsofinformingparticipants.Inaddition,halfthereplicationparticipantswere
female,andtheirrateofobediencewasvirtuallyidenticaltothatofthemaleparticipants.Burgeralso
includedaconditioninwhichparticipantsfirstsawanotherparticipantrefusetocontinue.However,
participantsinthisconditionobeyedatthesamerateasparticipantsinthebasecondition.[31]
Inthe2010FrenchdocumentaryLeJeudelaMort(TheGameofDeath),researchersrecreatedthe
Milgramexperimentwithanaddedcritiqueofrealitytelevisionbypresentingthescenarioasagame
showpilot.Volunteersweregiven40andtoldtheywouldnotwinanymoneyfromthegame,asthis

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wasonlyatrial.Only16of80"contestants"(teachers)chosetoendthegamebeforedeliveringthe
highestvoltagepunishment.[32][33]
TheexperimentwasperformedonDatelineNBConanepisodeairingApril25,2010.
TheDiscoveryChannelairedthe"HowEvilareYou"segmentofCuriosityonOctober30,2011.The
episodewashostedbyEliRoth,whoproducedresultssimilartotheoriginalMilgramexperiment,
thoughthehighestvoltagepunishmentusedwas165volts,ratherthan450volts.[34]
Duetoincreasinglywidespreadknowledgeoftheexperiment,recentreplicationsoftheprocedurehave
hadtoensurethatparticipantswerenotpreviouslyawareofit.

Othervariations
CharlesSheridanandRichardKing(attheUniversityofMissouriandtheUniversityofCalifornia,
Berkeley,respectively)hypothesizedthatsomeofMilgram'ssubjectsmayhavesuspectedthatthevictim
wasfaking,sotheyrepeatedtheexperimentwitharealvictim:a"cute,fluffypuppy"whowasgiven
real,albeitapparentlyharmless,electricshocks.TheirfindingsweresimilartothoseofMilgram:halfof
themalesubjectsandallofthefemalesobeyedthroughout.Manysubjectsshowedhighlevelsof
distressduringtheexperiment,andsomeopenlywept.Inaddition,SheridanandKingfoundthatthe
durationforwhichtheshockbuttonwaspresseddecreasedastheshocksgothigher,meaningthatfor
highershocklevels,subjectsweremorehesitant.[35][36]

Mediadepictions
Obedienceisablackandwhitefilmoftheexperiment,shotbyMilgramhimself.Itisdistributed
byAlexanderStreetPress.[37]
TheTenthLevelwasa1975CBStelevisionfilmabouttheexperiment,featuringWilliamShatner,
OssieDavis,andJohnTravolta.[10][38]
IasinIcarusisa1979FrenchconspiracythrillerwithYvesMontandasalawyerinvestigating
theassassinationofthePresident.ThemovieisinspiredbytheKennedyassassinationandthe
subsequentWarrenCommissioninvestigation.DiggingintothepsychologyoftheLeeHarvey
Oswaldtypecharacter,theattorneyfindsoutthe"decoyshooter"participatedintheMilgram
experiment.Theongoingexperimentispresentedtotheunsuspectinglawyer.
ReferencedinAlanMoore'sVforVendettaasareasonwhyDr.Surridgehaslostfaithin
humanity.
Atrocityisa2005filmreenactmentoftheMilgramExperiment.[39]
TheHumanBehaviorExperimentsisa2006documentarybyAlexGibneyaboutmajor
experimentsinsocialpsychology,shownalongwithmodernincidentshighlightingtheprinciples
discussed.AlongwithStanleyMilgram'sstudyinobedience,thedocumentaryshowsthediffusion
ofresponsibilitystudyofJohnDarleyandBibbLatanandtheStanfordPrisonExperimentof
PhilipZimbardo.
ChipKidd's2008novelTheLearnersisabouttheMilgramexperimentandfeaturesStanley
Milgramasacharacter.
TheMilgramExperimentisa2009filmbytheBrothersGibbsthatchroniclesthestoryofStanley
Milgram'sexperiments.
"Authority",anepisodeofLaw&Order:SpecialVictimsUnit,featuresMerritRook,asuspect
playedbyRobinWilliams,whoemploysthestripsearchprankcallscam,identifyinghimselfas
"DetectiveMilgram".HelaterreenactsaversionoftheMilgramexperimentonDet.ElliotStabler
byorderinghimtoadministerelectricshockstoDet.OliviaBenson,whomRookhasboundandis
thushelpless.
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The2010filmZenithreferencesanddramaticallydepictstheMilgramexperiment
Thetrack"WeDoWhatWe'reTold(Milgram's37)"onPeterGabriel'salbumSoisareferenceto
Milgram'sExperiment18,inwhich37of40peoplewerepreparedtoadministerthehighestlevel
ofshock.
TheDarWilliamssong"Buzzer"isabouttheexperiment."I'mfeelingsorryforthisguythatI
pressedtoshock/HegetstheanswerswrongIhavetoupthewatts/Andhebeggedmetostop
buttheytoldmetogo/Ipressedthebuzzer."
Episode114oftheHowieMandelshowHowieDoItrepeatedtheexperimentwithasinglepairof
subjectsusingthepremiseofaJapanesegameshow.
ADerrenBrownspecialnamedTheHeistrepeatedtheMilgramexperimenttotestwhetherthe
participantswilltakepartinastagedheistafterwards.[40]
TheDiscoveryChannel'sCuriosityTVseriesfeaturedanepisodewhereEliRothrecreatedthe
experimentaskingthequestion,"50yearslater,havewechanged?"
FoolinAroundisa1980moviestarringGaryBuseyandAnnetteO'Toole,whichusesaMilgram
experimentparodyinacomedicscene.
ThevideogameFallout:NewVegascontainedaVault,inspiredbytheMilgramexperiment,
whichdemandedtheresidentstosacrificeoneoftheirownonceayearandtoldthemtheywould
beexterminatediftheyfailedtocomply.
The2012filmCompliance,writtenanddirectedbyCraigZobel,showsagroupofemployees
assistingintheinterrogationofayoungcounterassistantatthecommandsofapersonwhoclaims
tobeapoliceofficeroverthephone,demonstratingthewillingnessofsubjectstofolloworders
fromauthorityfigures.
Aseason10episodeoftheFOXTVseriesBonesnamed"TheMutilationoftheMaster
Manipulator",themurdervictim,acollegepsychologyprofessor,isshownadministeringthe
Milgramexperiment.
Experimenter,afilmaboutMilgram,byMichaelAlmereyda,wasscreenedtofavorablereactions
atthe2015SundanceFilmFestival.[41]

Seealso
Banalityofevil
Hoflinghospitalexperiment
HumanexperimentationintheUnitedStates
LawofDueObedience
LeJeudelaMort
LittleEichmanns
Moraldisengagement
MyLaiMassacre
Socialinfluence
Stanfordprisonexperiment
Stripsearchphonecallscam
Superiororders
TheThirdWave

Notes
1. Milgram,Stanley(1963)."BehavioralStudyofObedience"(http://content.apa.org/journals/abn/67/4/371).
JournalofAbnormalandSocialPsychology67(4):3718.doi:10.1037/h0040525
(https://dx.doi.org/10.1037%2Fh0040525).PMID14049516
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14049516).asPDF.
(http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/social_dilemmas/fall/Readings/Week_06/milgram.pdf)
2. Milgram,Stanley(1974).ObediencetoAuthorityAnExperimentalView(http://books.google.com/books?
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2. Milgram,Stanley(1974).ObediencetoAuthorityAnExperimentalView(http://books.google.com/books?
id=MlpEAAAAMAAJ).Harpercollins.ISBN006131983X.
3. Zimbardo,Philip."WhenGoodPeopleDoEvil"
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References
Blass,Thomas(2004).TheManWhoShockedtheWorld:TheLifeandLegacyofStanleyMilgram.Basic
Books.ISBN0738203998.
Levine,RobertV.(JulyAugust2004)."Milgram'sProgress"
(http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/id.2948,content.true,css.print/bookshelf.aspx).American
Scientist.BookreviewofTheManWhoShockedtheWorld
Miller,ArthurG.(1986).Theobedienceexperiments:Acasestudyofcontroversyinsocialscience.New
York:Praeger.
Parker,Ian(Autumn2000)."Obedience"(http://www.granta.com/Magazine/71).Granta(71).Includesan
interviewwithoneofMilgram'svolunteers,anddiscussesmoderninterestin,andscepticismabout,the
experiment.
Tarnow,Eugen."TowardstheZeroAccidentGoal:AssistingtheFirstOfficerMonitorandChallengeCaptain
Errors"(http://cogprints.org/4566/).JournalofAviation/AerospaceEducationandResearch10(1).
Tumanov,Vladimir(2007)."StanleyMilgramandSiegfriedLenz:AnAnalysisofDeutschstundeinthe
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FrameworkofSocialPsychology"
(http://vladarticles.yolasite.com/resources/Stanley%20Milgram%20and%20Siegfried%20Lenz.pdf)(PDF).
Neophilologus:InternationalJournalofModernandMediaevalLanguageandLiterature91(1):135148.
doi:10.1007/s110610054254x(https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs110610054254x).
Wu,William(June2003)."Compliance:TheMilgramExperiment"
(http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/psychology/compliance.shtml).PracticalPsychology.

Furtherreading
Perry,Gina(2013).Behindtheshockmachine:theuntoldstoryofthenotoriousMilgram
psychologyexperiments(Rev.edition.ed.).NewYork[etc.]:TheNewPress.ISBN159558921
X.

Externallinks
StanleyMilgramRedux,TBIYTB

WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoMilgram
experiment.

(https://web.archive.org/web/20080215010353/http://www.hippolytic.com/blog/2007/01/stanley_
milgram_redux_1.php)Descriptionofa2007iterationofMilgram'sexperimentatYale
University,publishedinTheYaleHippolytic,Jan.22,2007.(InternetArchive)
APowerpointpresentationdescribingMilgram'sexperiment
(http://www.posbase.uib.no/posbase/Presentasjoner/P_Milgram%20(1963).ppt)
Synthesisofbook(http://www.consciencevraie.info/stanleymilgram.htm)Afaithfulsynthesisof
ObediencetoAuthorityStanleyMilgram
ObedienceToAuthority(http://knol.google.com/k/obediencetoauthority#)Acommentary
extractedfrom50PsychologyClassics(2007)
ApersonalaccountofaparticipantintheMilgramobedienceexperiments
(http://www.jewishcurrents.org/2004jandimow.htm)
Summaryandevaluationofthe1963obedienceexperiment
(http://www.holah.karoo.net/milgramstudy.htm)
TheScienceofEvil(http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2765416&page=1)fromABC
NewsPrimetime
TheLuciferEffect:HowGoodPeopleTurnEvil(http://www.webcitation.org/5lLKy3jno)
VideolectureofPhilipZimbardotalkingabouttheMilgramExperiment.
Zimbardo,Philip(2007)."WhenGoodPeopleDoEvil"
(http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2007_01/milgram.html).YaleAlumniMagazine.
Articleonthe45thanniversaryoftheMilgramexperiment.
Riggenbach,Jeff(August3,2010)."TheMilgramExperiment"(http://mises.org/daily/4675/The
MilgramExperiment).MisesDaily(LudwigvonMisesInstitute).
Milgram1974,Chapter1and15(http://www.panarchy.org/milgram/obedience.html)
People'stillwillingtotorture'(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7791278.stm)BBC
BeyondtheShockMachine(http://www.abc.net.au/rn/radioeye/stories/2008/2358103.htm),aradio
documentarywiththepeoplewhotookpartintheexperiment.Includesoriginalaudiorecordings
oftheexperiment
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Milgram_experiment&oldid=671353158"
Categories: Conformity Groupprocesses Historyofpsychology
HumansubjectresearchintheUnitedStates Medicalethics Researchethics Socialpsychology
Psychologyexperiments Torture
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