Updated Milgram Experiment

The original Milgram Experiment is a classic study of obedience and authority. The introduction to the Primetime Live segment does a good job of explaining the original structure and context of the experiment. They then reenact the experiment under the supervision of psychologists.

Primetime Live recreated the Milgram experiment in 2007 under the supervision of a Psychological Board. Even if you know about the original Milgram experiment, this one will surprise you!

The results are a bit surprising -- women are more likely to administer the highest level shock than the men are. It would have been interesting if they had administered a moral stages test (Kohlberg or Gilligan) to these people to see how moral development plays into the experiment. my guess is that higher stage people would be less likely to comply, but it would be interesting to see if there is a correlation.



What would you do? I'd like to think that my long-standing opposition to obeying authority would allow me to follow my conscience and not administer the shocks. But who knows.

Tags: Updated, Milgram Experiment, Primetime Live, obedience, authority, psychology, research, culture, Stanley Milgram, Lawrence Kohlberg, Carol Gilligan, moral stages