Milgram's obedience study is one of psychology's most shocking experiments,... Show more
Psychology657 views·Updated May 20, 2026·1 pageUnderstanding Obedience: Insights from Milgram's Study
Amy Breen@amybreen_ikkr
1
of 1
Milgram's Study of Obedience
Ever wondered how far you'd go just because someone in charge told you to? Milgram's 1963 experiment tested exactly this by seeing if 40 male volunteers would give electric shocks to strangers.
The setup was deceptively simple. Participants became the "teacher" whilst a confederate (someone working with Milgram) played the "learner". Every time the learner got a question wrong, the teacher had to deliver an electric shock - and these shocks got stronger each time, reaching a terrifying 450 volts.
The results were staggering. 65% of participants continued right to the maximum shock level, and nobody stopped before 300V. What's mental is that psychology students predicted only 3% would go to the highest level - they were completely wrong about human nature.
Key Insight: The situation you're in matters more than your personality when it comes to obedience. Most people aren't naturally cruel - they just follow authority figures.
Milgram concluded that situational factors - like having someone in a lab coat telling you what to do - are incredibly powerful in determining how we behave. It's not about being a "bad person"; it's about the social pressure around you.
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Psychology657 views·Updated May 20, 2026·1 pageUnderstanding Obedience: Insights from Milgram's Study
Amy Breen@amybreen_ikkr
Milgram's obedience study is one of psychology's most shocking experiments, literally. It revealed how ordinary people can be pushed to harm others simply because an authority figure tells them to - findings that still influence our understanding of human behaviour... Show more
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Milgram's Study of Obedience
Ever wondered how far you'd go just because someone in charge told you to? Milgram's 1963 experiment tested exactly this by seeing if 40 male volunteers would give electric shocks to strangers.
The setup was deceptively simple. Participants became the "teacher" whilst a confederate (someone working with Milgram) played the "learner". Every time the learner got a question wrong, the teacher had to deliver an electric shock - and these shocks got stronger each time, reaching a terrifying 450 volts.
The results were staggering. 65% of participants continued right to the maximum shock level, and nobody stopped before 300V. What's mental is that psychology students predicted only 3% would go to the highest level - they were completely wrong about human nature.
Key Insight: The situation you're in matters more than your personality when it comes to obedience. Most people aren't naturally cruel - they just follow authority figures.
Milgram concluded that situational factors - like having someone in a lab coat telling you what to do - are incredibly powerful in determining how we behave. It's not about being a "bad person"; it's about the social pressure around you.
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Students love us — and so will you.
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Stefan SiOS user
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