Obedience to Authority

     I found the Stanley Miligram Experiment very interesting yet shocking experience. The experiment shows that the teachers justify the use of violence for the sake of science. The doctor had the power of the obedience of  authority. The teachers had a sense of obligation to the experiment. They continued to shock the learners because the experiment results became more important than the pain or danger they inflicted. There was a wide constraint within the group to continue especially when the doctor of the experiment used the key phrase but "you must continue."

     The fact that nine of twelve participants continued was not what I expected. The silence and lack of objection like a "Culture of Silence" had the teachers readily obeying the monitor's request to continue. But when the learner protested the teachers felt a need to stop. Any cry out awoke a sense of compassion that is lacking in the silence. Much like the oppression of people being used unfairly in factories without labor restrictions, oppression is happening. They dehumanized the learners. There was exploitation of the learners and no objection to the cruelty even though the teachers felt the shock and saw readings of high intensity levels. They marginalized their role in the responsibility for the pain making the results more important than the people. They made themselves powerless letting the moderator control the actions. They also followed "Cultural Imperialism" because they followed the norm that the experiment was that important and essential to get results at almost any cost.

     If I had been in this situation, I would be doing the experiment but once the shock levels got to high I would have stopped.  It appeared to dangerous and I would be uncomfortable testing people. My response would have been like Paul in the video. I could not rationalize harming people even if I was told to continue. In conclusion, the power of authority persuaded participants to carry on with coercize power.