9 min listen
How the Milgram 'obedience' experiment shocked the world
FromWitness History
ratings:
Length:
9 minutes
Released:
Apr 30, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
In 1961, the American psychologist Stanley Milgram began a series of controversial experiments on ‘obedience to authority’.His study aimed to show how ordinary people could be capable of committing evil acts, if ordered to do so. He wanted to understand the psychology behind genocide, telling the BBC: “How is it possible that ordinary people who were courteous and decent in everyday life, can act callously, inhumanely, without any limitations of conscience?”During the tests, participants were led to believe that they were assisting an unrelated experiment, in which they had to administer electric shocks to another person.These fake shocks gradually increased to levels that would have been harmful had they been real volunteers.Vicky Farncombe looks back at the experiment, using BBC archive.This programme includes original recordings of the experiments which listeners may find disturbing.(Photo: Stanley Milgram beside the shock generator. Credit: BBC)
Released:
Apr 30, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Race Riots in Liverpool: In 1981 police used CS gas for the first time in mainland Britain to control race riots by Witness History