Monday, January 9, 2012
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?
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I was somewhat surprised that Burger's Replication of Milgram got almost the same results as Milgrams's orignal study. I thought it was very strange that even now people follow authority the same as before. Their has been a lot of rebelious acts since the Milgram studies which is why I am surprised the results were the same. The biggest would be the hippie movement in the late 60's which was a huge rebellion against authority. Did anyone else notice that even after all the rebelious acts since Milgram, Burger still got the same results.
ReplyDeleteMarcus C.
Marcus, I did notice that Burger got the same results as did Milgram. Maybe the participants felt that they needed to see the experiment though because they received $50 even though they were told that they could leave at any time. I know that I would feel obligated to see the whole thing through if I got that kind of money. I wonder what I would have done. As I was reading, I thought for sure that there would be more people walking out.
DeleteIn response to Marcus, I did notice that Burger's results were similar to Milgram's despite having occurred after various "rebellious" phases in american history, but at the same time, we're not in the '60s, the '70s, or even the '80s. It seems to me that every decade has a culture all its own. Also, I believe that "situational stressors" such as having an authority figure right over your shoulder would make a large impact. That being said, what difference would it make if the given authority figure was perceived in different ways? For example; passive vs aggressive, weak vs powerful. I think all of us (or at least the vast majority, say, 90%) would bend more to the will of the latter example (aggressive, or powerful) than to the first (passive, or weak.
ReplyDeleteMarty P
I agree, Marcus. I was very surprised by the results--whenever I read Milgram, I'm horrified by what subjects were compelled to do, simply because they were ordered to do so by an authority figure; at the same time, I'm thinking in the back of my mind, "But this was the early sixties--people were more prone to obey and to conform to social norms." I think that's why Burger is so much more disturbing to me--it's shocking to imagine that our society has emerged from the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, the protests of the sixties, the counter-culture attitudes of the eighties (and maybe even the nineties) without the ability to think for ourselves when responding to authority.
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way--the link that I posted was to the full-text version of Burger's report on his replication (as pointed out to me by a sharp-eyed student who noticed it was over 40 pages long...oops). If you are reading this version, feel free to skim it a little...
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a short post. Anyhow, as I was reading both Milgram's experiment and Burger's I was compelled to think about how I would respond if I was asked to be the teacher and to shock someone if they got the question wrong. It's easy for me to look at the other participants and wonder why they didn't just get up and leave and stand for what they believed they should do? It scares me to death to think that I very well could have reacted just as the people in the experiment. What would you do?
ReplyDeleteSorry, the post that starts with "This is going to be a short post" was supposed to say by Carl Beck.
ReplyDelete-Carl B.-
In response to Carl Beck: I have thought that same question. What would I do? Sure, I was not in that situation, but I have been trying to understand how people can give such torture to others. If you figure the voltage of a household outlet is 110 volts and myself being shocked by that was not a pleasant experience. The "teachers" in Milgram's were given 45 volts as just a little sample. I can only imagine how horrible 450 volts given 3 times could effect someone. I am certain that I would walk out of this experiment reguardless of who the authority figure was.
ReplyDeleteBrad Carlin
Brad Im with you,I really dont think I would be able to continue with the experiment. I couldnt do that to someone. I wouldnt care what a guy in the white coat was telling me to do. If my actions were hurting someone, thats when its not ok anymore.
DeleteBrock Richins
Marcus, I did notice that the results were pretty much the same. Regarless of all the events which have taken place through the years I think people are still intimidated by authority figures. there are the select few that have the confidence to not agree and do what they want, but for the most part we are still the same as were were in the 50's. What do you guys think would happen if they didnt give money to the participants?
ReplyDeleteBrock Richins
I think that a lot of people wouldn't have done it without the money. But as you said I think that the general society is intimidated by authority figures and that is why they got the same results.
DeleteChristian Farr
If the participants were not given any money or compensation I think there would be a lot less participants that want to be apart of the study. On the other hand some people would still be apart of the study just to help to give results but would not go as far because there is no compensation.
ReplyDeleteMarcus C.
How could the people doing the experiment not know of the previous experiment? I thought The Milgram Experiment was well known by all?
ReplyDeleteJackie M.
I think that everyone is very obedient to authority fiures because we can be very intimidated. Sometimes people aren't intimidated by authority figures but that is a small portion. I also think we are taught to obey authority figures as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that everyone is very obedient to authority figures because we can be very intimidated. Sometimes people aren't intimidated by authority figures but that is a small portion of people. I also think we a re taught to obey authority figures as well. Sorry that was my comment up there but forgot to put my name on it.
ReplyDeleteChristian Farr
Sometimes authority figures are there to help us out like police officers or firemen. So when they help us out i think we most likely will obey them. Sometimes they also can be intimidating so we just obey them instead of making our own decisions and disobeying.
ReplyDeleteChristian Farr