Study on Obedience Using Milgram's Experiment (Essay Sample)

Psychology
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Obedience
Obedience could be defined as conformity to instructions provided by a figure of authority (Teague, 2002). Recent research revealed that subjects are expected to be obedient under some conditions in comparison to others. Obedience is often at the peak when instructions are given by a figure of authority rather than volunteers; when the figure of authority is present when instructions are given to subjects or when a subject has not previously witnessed disobedience to instructions y others. Among these factors, the fact that commands are given by an authority figure has the greatest impact on obedience. Subjects obey instructions for the reason that they want to be rewarded; they do not want to experience the consequences of disobedience and due to their belief that an authority figure is legitimate.
In a research about the consequences of punishment, Milgram acquired forty student volunteers who were to be assigned to forty teachers. The teachers were instructed to assist their students in learning a list of words. Every time the student made an error, the teachers were strictly instructed to administer an electric shock by pressing a button. The teachers were further instructed to increase the level of shock every instance the student made an error, up to when a dangerous level of shock was attained. All through the course of the test, the experimenter solidly directed the teachers to abide by the directions given to th...