The End of the Obedience Readings!

Now that we've finished our obedience readings, I have a few final questions for you. What did Asch, McEwan, and Ross & Nisbett add to our knowledge about obedience to authority and to social pressure? In one of the reading responses I read this weekend, one student mentioned that she has been more conscious of the way she responds to pressure from peers and authorities since reading these essays. Have any of you found yourselves thinking about or responding to pressure differently? In what ways has it affected you?

Keep up the comments and questions!

Fromm--Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem

I've found a full text copy of Fromm's article for Wednesday's reading, so here is the link to "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem." What do you think of this idea that, according to the mythology of many cultures (keep in mind that by "mythology," Fromm means "a system of beliefs"), the human race began through an act of disobedience? Does this change the way you feel about disobedience vs. obedience? Can you think of any other important historical events that began with acts of disobedience?

"Group Minds" by Doris Lessing

Here is the link to our reading for Friday, "Group Minds" by Doris Lessing. Do you agree with the way Lessing suggests we "in the West" perceive ourselves, that we are separate, independent individuals, limited only by our financial capacity to do whatever we choose?

Burger--Replicating Milgram

Okay, here is the link to Burger's replication of Milgram. Were you surprised at the similarity in results of the two experiments, even though they are separated by nearly half a century? Think of the events that have occurred since 1961-63. Haven't those events changed our response to authority?

"Obedience" by Ian Parker

Here is a link to the text of the article "Obedience" by Ian Parker. As before, email me if you have any trouble opening it, and I'll paste the text into an email for you.

This article brings up a wide range of issues dealing with Milgram's experiment--the problems and controversy surrounding it, as well as the value and possible applications of it to real life.

What did you think about the criticism of it from the various Milgram experts and social psychology professionals? Do you think it's possible that many of the subjects saw through the ruse and simply continued to cooperate because they were playing their part in an elaborate scientific role-play? Do you think there is any real value to Milgram's experiment, when we can see everything we need to know about obedience and human cruelty just by observing real life?

Welcome to English 1010!

Welcome to English 1010! Here is the link to the Milgram Experiment. What did you think of this experiment? Was it ethical? Was it interesting/surprising/scary? What questions came to mind as you were reading it?