Stanley Milgram Quotes

A collection of quotes by Stanley Milgram.

Stanley Milgram (1933-1984) was an American psychologist renowned for his controversial and influential research on obedience to authority. Born in New York City, Milgram earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Queens College before turning his focus to psychology. He went on to obtain his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University in 1960.

Milgram's most famous experiment, conducted in 1961, involved studying the willingness of individuals to obey commands that contradicted their moral beliefs. The participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to a learner each time they answered a question incorrectly, unaware that the shocks were actually fake. Milgram's study highlighted the tendency of ordinary individuals to obey authority figures even if it meant causing harm to others, raising significant ethical concerns.

Throughout his career, Milgram continued to investigate topics related to social psychology, obedience, and conformity. He authored numerous articles and books, including his seminal work "Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View" (1974), which further examined the implications of his obedience experiments.

Milgram's research sparked widespread debates in the field of psychology, emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of scientists conducting experiments. Despite the controversy surrounding his work, Milgram significantly contributed to our understanding of obedience and the power of authority figures in influencing human behavior. His studies remain influential and continue to shape discussions on moral responsibility and ethical boundaries in research.