Obedience To Authority

STANLEY MILGRIM

© 1974

Read: February, 2025

While on our latest trip, my brother in law had been watching ‘Experimenter (2015)’ on the plane. I had not heard of the movie or the experiment it was based upon, but the premise sounded really interesting. So, I ordered the book, written by the well known psychologist Stanley Milgrim, to arrive the day we got home. I’m not sure what it is these days, but I hardly watch movies and wasn’t that interested in the movie. Especially with the long list of movies I actually want to watch, but never get around to doing so.

Without giving you any spoilers, the basic premise of the experiment is to observe how a person reacts to direction from an authority figure in a laboratory sitting. Specifically in regards to treating a 3rd participant in the experiment. The test was run in the 60s and has been reproduced a number of time since.

First off, for those of us that scratch our heads at the craziness of our times; for those that see some similar patterns in the US right now, to Germany in the 30s and 40s; you might find this book both horrifying and comforting at the same time. Horrifying to observe one of our human flaws, and comforting in understanding at least some of the unexplainable behavior by our fellow countryman, and people in general. Regardless, it is a fascinating experiment that will run counter intuitive of how we all, and I mean All with a capital “A” (regardless of political leaning), see ourselves and our moral convictions.

You really should read the book. I can’t recommend the movie as I haven’t seen it, and regardless of whether it is a good movie, it isn’t going to have the more in depth information of how the experiment went through several phases. Many of the comments from those that participated would probably make compelling dialog and I hope they used some of it.