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Milgram Shock and Stanford Prison — what we misunderstand about the most infamous experiments in psychology
Milgram Shock and Stanford Prison — what we misunderstand about the most infamous experiments in psychology
Milgram Shock and Stanford Prison — what we misunderstand about the most infamous experiments in psychology
Saturday 29th October 2022
Explore the misunderstood findings of Milgram and Stanford experiments with expert insights from Professor Alex Haslam.
30 minutes
Informative
Eye-opening
Educational
Honest
Engaging
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Get the buttons here!The Truth Behind Psychology's Most Infamous Experiments
Episode Overview
- Milgram's experiment shows nuanced obedience, not blind compliance.
- Leadership influences participants' actions in experiments.
- Ethical standards in psychology tightened post-experiments.
- Real-world events reflect engaged followership dynamics.
- Participants often believe they're contributing to a greater good.
Very few people sign up to evil projects because they're evil. They sign up to them because they think they're good.
Ever wondered why ordinary people might do terrible things? This episode of 'All In The Mind' digs into the infamous Milgram Shock Experiment and the Stanford Prison Experiment, revealing surprising truths about human behaviour and authority. Psychologist Stanley Milgram set out to understand obedience and the potential for evil within everyday people, driven by his family's tragic Holocaust history. However, University of Queensland's Professor Alex Haslam argues that the widely accepted interpretation of blind obedience misses crucial nuances.
You'll learn how different conditions in Milgram's study affected participants' willingness to inflict harm, and how leadership plays a vital role in steering actions. The episode also touches on the Stanford Prison Experiment, where Philip Zimbardo's setup led to shocking brutality among participants. Haslam suggests that leadership and identification with a cause, rather than mere role expectations, drive such behaviours.
From Nazi Germany to the Capitol riots, Haslam's insights challenge the notion of blind obedience, suggesting instead that people often believe they are contributing to a greater good. With ethics in psychological research now under tighter scrutiny thanks to these experiments, listeners are invited to reconsider how leadership and context influence actions. So, what do these studies really tell us about human nature? Are we just following orders, or is there more to it?
Get ready to question what you thought you knew about these infamous psychological experiments.