How Did Stanley Milgram Study Unethical

Stanley Milgram’s 1963 Study of Disobedience was unethical, based upon scholarly research. Stanley Milgram (1933-1984) is, perhaps, best known for his research studies into disobedience, referring to a person’s following of rules (or instructions) received from an individual viewed as an authority figure. Milgram’s Study of Obedience also analyzed the effects of peer pressure. In Milgram’s study, forty males between the ages of 20 and 50, representing all types of vocations, were recruited and then reimbursed $4.50 for their participation in an alleged learning study (Holah-Psychology, n.d.). The study’s goal was to investigate what extent of obedience would be demonstrated when study participants were told by an individual perceived as an authority figure to shock another person (Holah-Psychology, n.d.) whenever the study “learner” made an error. The shock unit was comprised of thirty switches from 15 to 450 volts, and it realistically “buzzed and snapped” (Brannigan, 2013, p. 2) giving it much authenticity. In the study, all forty participants agreed to shock an unknown person up to 300 volts. Then, two-thirds of the participants continued to obey as the voltage was notionally increased to a punishing and dangerous 450 volts level. Milgram’s study

Milgram utilized deception to the detriment of his study participants. Furthermore, Milgram failed to be mindful of correct debriefing, something the American Psychological Association ultimately investigated him on. Even so, few psychological studies have had such an impactful legacy as Milgram’s disobedience studies (Benjamin, & Simpson, 2009). In contemporary times, the Milgram study successfully modified the manner in which psychologists conceptualize and carry out their research (Benjamin, & Simpson, 2009), thus, maximizing human benefit while minimizing harm and trauma to