Milgrim’s experiment was ethical and the “trauma” that he put his subjects through was needed for statistical evidence and wasn’t harming anyone. By being obedient to the experimenters, the subjects were “hurting” themselves. No damage was being done in this experiment because no physical harm was being done to anyone involved. If the subject could offset the blame in their head, then he shouldn’t feel responsible for pushing a button.
Humans are not agents of terror. This case makes it look like we are brainless/stupid sidekicks. We feel bad and know it is wrong deep down, but we continue. The authority being used was quite weak; they say it was stronger in the room, but no social control was being used like saying if they didn’t continue they would be killed. It was all voluntary and no damage was caused, so it is ethical. People need to learn to say, “No.”
I would be interested to see if the same statistics occurred if the actor was a family member of the teacher. These cases are constantly happening and employers knew how to maximize safety in coal mines by pairing family members together. In third grade, I would positively adjust my friend’s scores on assignments because I didn’t want them to get bad grades. They would do it for me too. Children don’t want to cause each other sadness by hurting people they know and have to work with later.
We all have a choice to follow authorities that can’t actually make us do anything. The teachers were convinced to help science in its search for answers, but nothing was actually making them do it. A desire to fulfill their roles as tools and a “link in the chain” is what led them to continue. I honestly, as a person who is not normal and royally hates pain, would not have begun the process and would have told them to use my refusal in their conclusion.
No comments:
Post a Comment