Experiment: People willing to shock others if authority figure asks

December 22, 2008 By Lisa M. Krieger

Replicating one of the most controversial behavioral experiments in history, a Santa Clara University psychologist has found that people will follow orders from an authority figure to administer what they believe are painful electric shocks.



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  • superhuman - Jan 05, 2009
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
    Funny how the authors try to downplay the significance of such results.

    These studies prove that USA population could turn into nazis if given the chance.

    The vast majority does not have what it takes to question authority. Humans are pack animals and most pack members are hardwired to obey the leader.
  • Velanarris - Jan 05, 2009
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
    Expected results yield verification of a plausable theory.

    We've known for a long time that it's simple to strip ethics and morals from a mob. This just gives us a more profound method for doing so.

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