Reference Information
Title: Obedience to Authority
Author: Stanley Milgram
Publisher: Harper Perennial (1983)
Summary
Chapter 9: Milgram discusses the difference between conformity and obedience. Obedience to authority occurs within a hierarchy, conformity is imitation. Obedience is not imitation. The prescription for actions is explicit in obedience but implicit in conformity.
Chapter 10: In this chapter, Milgram begins to analyze the findings of the first half of the book. He tries to look deeper at the causes of obedience. He defines the "agentic state" - the condition a person is in when he sees himself as an agent for carrying out another person's wishes. This state is the cornerstone of their analysis.
Chapter 11: Milgram ponders the forces that impact the subject prior to the experiment. He considers things such as the family structure and institutional setting. For forces during the experiment include the perception of legitimate authority, the appearance of the authority figure, the lack of any competing authorities and a visible link between the function of the authority and the commands given.
Chapter 12: Milgram looks at the sources of strain, things that buffer strain and how people address the issue of strain. He states that they typically address strain though avoidance, denial and subterfuges. People blow of steam from strain by verbally disagreeing with authority or physically reacting by trembling and sweating.
Chapter 13: He talks about an experiment done by Buss and Berkowitz in order to investigate aggression.
Chapter 14: Milgram looks at different assertions made against his findings. These included: people in the study are not typical, the subjects didn't believe they administered real shocks, the findings are not applicable outside of the laboratory setting.
Chapter 15: Milgram relates his settings to the real world and how they are applicable. He considers the Vietnam War as an example. In a CBS interview with a soldier, he shows a correlation with his studies and obedience in the war.
Discussion
I enjoyed that Milgram included the section about dissenting opinions in his book. It is nice that he was able to make good points against the opposing side. I also found it interesting that his experiments were repeated in other countries.
Chapter 9: Milgram discusses the difference between conformity and obedience. Obedience to authority occurs within a hierarchy, conformity is imitation. Obedience is not imitation. The prescription for actions is explicit in obedience but implicit in conformity.
Chapter 10: In this chapter, Milgram begins to analyze the findings of the first half of the book. He tries to look deeper at the causes of obedience. He defines the "agentic state" - the condition a person is in when he sees himself as an agent for carrying out another person's wishes. This state is the cornerstone of their analysis.
Chapter 11: Milgram ponders the forces that impact the subject prior to the experiment. He considers things such as the family structure and institutional setting. For forces during the experiment include the perception of legitimate authority, the appearance of the authority figure, the lack of any competing authorities and a visible link between the function of the authority and the commands given.
Chapter 12: Milgram looks at the sources of strain, things that buffer strain and how people address the issue of strain. He states that they typically address strain though avoidance, denial and subterfuges. People blow of steam from strain by verbally disagreeing with authority or physically reacting by trembling and sweating.
Chapter 13: He talks about an experiment done by Buss and Berkowitz in order to investigate aggression.
Chapter 14: Milgram looks at different assertions made against his findings. These included: people in the study are not typical, the subjects didn't believe they administered real shocks, the findings are not applicable outside of the laboratory setting.
Chapter 15: Milgram relates his settings to the real world and how they are applicable. He considers the Vietnam War as an example. In a CBS interview with a soldier, he shows a correlation with his studies and obedience in the war.
Discussion
I enjoyed that Milgram included the section about dissenting opinions in his book. It is nice that he was able to make good points against the opposing side. I also found it interesting that his experiments were repeated in other countries.
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