Conscience vs. Conformity, Essay Example

Stanley Milgram’s 1974 book titled Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View analyzes five situational elements involved in a person’s decision to choose one’s conscience over conformity. Below outlines Milgram five conditions in his study,

The experimenter left the room

Milgrim’s research found that the location of the authority figure had a major impact on whether or not the participant would choose to comply with their demands. When the authority figure was placed in close proximity of the participant, the subject was more likely to obey the demands:

The victim was present in the same room with the one inflicting pain 

The distance of the victim who was receiving the pain also determined how the one inflicting the pain responded. Milgram found that the closer the inflictor was to the victim, the greater the chance for noncompliance.

Two experimenters left conflicting demands 

Milgram’s research found that when the participant was faced with two conflicting demands, the

Victim most relied on their personal experience of pain and suffering.

The person ordering them to continue was an ordinary man 

Milgram’s research found that ordinary people without any personal motivation can become agents of appalling and unmerited behavior; especially when faced with the demands of authority.  Even when the consequence of their behavior is unfavorable to them or the one receiving the pain, study participants continued to follow the demands of their authority. The subject worked with peers who refused to go further

Milgrim’s analysis determined that when authority figures rebelled against the process and refused to continue on, the rebellious acts of those in authority resulted in other participant’s refusal to continue as well.

References

Singer, K. N. (2008). the Milgram Obedience Experiment. Retrieved May 1, 2010 from web:http://peacesecurity.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_