Mojopalin
Member
Blind obedience is a problem for me. May not be a problem for you.
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Milgram Experiment
- Thread starter rojse
- Start date
Blind obedience is a problem for me. May not be a problem for you.
One of the suggested explanations for the behavior of the participants in the experiment was learned helplessness, where the participant was made, by the authority, to feel helpless to control the outcome of their behaviors at that moment. This would effectively remove their responsibility for their actions. Would such a determination (as opposed to "blind obedience") alter your opinion of the perceived "problem"?
Mojopalin
Member
Well, no. That was the purpose of the experiment in the first place, right? I thought Milgram was interested in knowing how dictators could control so many people. You know, the Nazis used the excuse, "I was just following orders". I could be wrong. But that was my understanding.
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
No.
I am getting an idea.
If you had actually read about Milgram's experiments, you'd know that it wasn't blind obedience. These people did not just blithely follow orders. They were clearly upset about what they were doing. They knew it was wrong, but had trouble challenging authority. In fact, when Milgram tried a variation and had the "scientist" leave the room and communicate to the subject via a telephone in the room, many of the subjects resorted to lying. They would NOT shock the guy in the chair, yet tell the scientist that they were.
This was not blind obedience. It was much more complicated than that.
But as you say, whatever. You are too lacking in empathy to be able to see it, and THAT is what is scary.