Book Reading #3 - Obedience to Authority

References:
Title: Obedience to Authority
Author: Stanley Milgram
Editor: 1975

Summary:
In this book, Milgram details his famous experiment on the effects of authority, from its inception to the many different iterations of the experiment that were performed.

Milgram begins by discussing how he came up with the experiment and how they brought in the candidates for the experiment. He then briefly describes the expected results that he received from asking people.

Then, he begins describing the various versions of his experiment. He mentions many different iterations, including learner in separate room, conflicting orders, female teachers, and even one where the authority is not in the room. After each set of experiments, he gives stories of individual subjects, which further illustrate the quandaries that the subjects were in.

At the end of the book, he describes in deep detail his theories on why we are so susceptible to authority, from both a biological and mechanical perspective. He then closes the book by refuting some of the most basic arguments against his theories.

Discussion:
I really liked this book because of how it changed my perceptions of the experiment. In the other book we read as well as the IRB tests, they lambasted Milgram and his experiment. However, even though the experiment definitely caused people some problems, it also taught people valuable lessons about themselves.

Furthermore, because of the detailed manner in which he experimented, I feel like Milgram gave us valuable knowledge about the nature of authority. In fact, in a few parts of the book where he mentioned experiments he was unable to do, I was saddened because I was curious what theories he could have gleaned had he been able to do them.

(Image courtesy of: All About Psychology)