Milgram

Milgram was a social psychologist in the 1960’s who performed a highly debated research study with the correlation between obeying commands from an authority figure and the level of obedience. Even though I think that Milgram’s research raised ethical questions I do think that it did show the effect that authority has upon the obedience of others. I think that the fact that no one in the research study was really shocked did not have an effect on the participants because all the teachers believed that they were an authority over the learners and therefore had the power to inflict shocks. The teachers however were following the insistence to continue many times against their better judgment by a higher authority their professor.
I would have strong ethical issues if someone were to replicate this experiment using actual shock. I don’t think that inflicting actual pain would change the outcome of the initial experiment. I mean what is the point? Historically it’s well documented the actions of others using obedience to a higher authority regardless of the outcome. For example knights followed the instructions of their king with the purpose of maintaining their territory. Hitler’s SS soldiers followed his orders even though they were attempting to eradicate a whole Jewish population. Mafia wise guys follow the instructions of their mafia boss regardless of the severity of the request. Power and obedience is an age old phenomenon and will continue regardless of research replication to prove the actions of others.