Early Education

Milgram began his academic pursuits at Queens College in New York and later advanced to graduate studies at Harvard University

Interest in Conformity

Under the tutelage of renowned social psychologists, Milgram's interest in the mechanisms of conformity was piqued

Impact of Historical Context

The trial of Adolf Eichmann and his rationalization of obedience to orders deeply impacted Milgram and prompted his landmark obedience experiments at Yale University

Experiment Design

Milgram's experiment was meticulously crafted to measure the propensity of individuals to obey authority figures, even when it could result in harm to another person

Roles and Procedures

Participants were solicited via newspaper advertisements and were instructed to administer electric shocks of increasing intensity to a confederate in the study

Findings and Replications

Milgram's initial findings showed a high obedience rate, but replications with alterations demonstrated the influence of situational factors on obedience levels

Definition and Explanation

Milgram's Agency Theory delineates two states of human function, the autonomous state and the agentic state, to explain the behavior observed in his experiments

Factors Influencing Obedience

The theory posits that people are more likely to obey when they view the authority as legitimate and believe that the authority will assume responsibility for their actions

Deception and Distress

Milgram's experiments involved deception and caused participants considerable distress, leading to ongoing ethical debates

Lack of Autonomy

The experiments were criticized for not making it clear to participants that they had the right to withdraw, potentially compromising their sense of autonomy due to the financial incentive offered

Impact and Relevance

Despite the controversy, Milgram's insights into obedience remain fundamental to our understanding of the complex dynamics between authority and individuals