There was an interesting experiment done many years ago. The experiment included a subject called the teacher, a learner, and a scientist. The teacher was put in front of a long row of electrical shock switches. The learner was put behind the wall and could be heard, not seen. If the learner answered a question wrong, the teacher was instructed to give the learner the next electrical shock. Now, keep in mind that the electrical shock was not actually given and the learner was an actor however the teacher (subject) did not know this.
Throughout the process, the learner (actor) would beg for it to stop. The scientist would merely tell the teacher (subject) to continue. Astoundingly, 62.5% of the subjects/teachers continued to the final largest shock despite the pleas of the learner to stop and at some point, despite the silence.
Now keep in mind, there wasn't punishment for stopping the process. The scientist would merely instruct the "teacher" to continue. Basically, this was an experiment to see how far people will go when instructed by someone of imagined authority or knowledge. Whose judgement would triumph?
This experiment explains alot about human nature and is truly frightening.. Although the subjects could hear that someone was in pain and was pleading for release, the scientist's judgement would trump the subject. I am still thinking through my feelings about the results of this experiment. I think about the influence of media, marketers, our educational institutes, governments, etc. It also explains some of the reasons in my last post on why the public doesn't question our healthcare system even though there are many people suffering out there.
I can only take hope in the 30 some % who discontinued the experiment and used their own judgement. Although the researcher was discussing obedience, I believe it also includes the influence of someone who appears knowledgeable or takes responsibility off of the subject.
For more on this experiment, you can read an essay by the researcher Stanley Milgram.
To read more about Stanley Milgram, click here.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Zap him!
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3 comments:
Great blog and article. Really makes one think. In a free democratic society the people should have authority over government. If we had recall this might be so, but as things are now, the governments controls more things in out lives by virtue of our tax dollars and with the help of the MSM make us feel that they are the authority (You would die without Medicare!)
We become dependants and do what we are told and accept situations that are not helpful to us. I agree with your interpretation of the results.
Oh I saw the film footage of that study in psychology class a long time ago. Yes, it is fascinating. In class we looked at it more in the context of WW2, and why people followed Hitler's orders, for the most part against their ethical judgment.
It is truly scary.
Of course the Hitler thing is the most obvious example, but it goes on in our lives all the time. We should also remember that nature seems to underscore the authoritarian situation--eg. a boss mare in the heard, it improves chances of survival in this world.
So we can expect that if there is a vaccuum of authority in a given situation, the vaccuum will and should logically be filled. (Hopefully with compassionate people)
In medicine years ago, doctors were considered to be the authority. As time has gone by, doctors abdicated that authority for the political correct position of being a member of the team and a partner with the patient. Now there is no recognized authority in health care and as a result there is confusion and no direction. The government and the main stream news media attempt to make themselves the authority but do not have the credibility in the peoples eyes (politicians are the least trusted of all occupations). This is why we are floundering in health care and why I often lay the blame at the profession's feet. Politician's job is to get re-elected, physician's job was to be advocates for their patients.
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