Question

Without any experimental manipulations, which of the following best describes the milgram experiment?

a) unexpectedly, about 65% of the subjects received all of the electric shocks prior to terminating the experiment.
b) under the experimenter's orders, 65% of the subjects administered all of the electric shocks to the learner.
c) subjects complied with the experimenter's orders until the level of shock was about 65% of the most intense shock.
d) about 65% of the learners conformed to the teacher's orders to administer an electric shock to a confederate.

Answer 1

The Milgram experiment is best described by under the experimenter's orders, 65% of subjects administered all electric shocks to the learner. Despite personal ethical concerns, subjects were willing to issue potentially lethal shocks when directed by an authority figure, showcasing the puzzling extent of obedience.

Step-by-step explanation:

Without any experimental manipulations, the Milgram experiment is best described as: under the experimenter's orders, 65% of the subjects administered all of the electric shocks to the learner. In Stanley Milgram's controversial study on obedience, the shocking degree to which people obey authority was revealed when two out of three participants were willing to administer what appeared to be lethal electrical shocks to another person due to instructions from an authority figure. Despite experiencing conflict with their personal conscience, participants in the role of teacher believed they were delivering electric shocks to students (learners) who provided incorrect answers, with the severity of the shocks increasing progressively.

The results showed that when directed by an authority figure, individuals could act contrary to their moral principles. Many variables affected the degree of obedience, such as the proximity of the learner and the authority figure, which suggests that obedience is a complex phenomenon influenced by situational factors. However, the main finding was that a significant majority of participants were willing to administer the highest level of purported shocks prompted by an authority figure's commands.