The Milgram Shock Experiment and the Question of Evil

Psychologist Stanley Milgram's research aimed to understand why ordinary people commit acts of evil, particularly in relation to the Holocaust. Milgram's infamous experiment involved participants administering increasingly stronger electric shocks to a learner, believing they were causing harm. The headline finding that more than half of the participants followed instructions to administer lethal shocks has been widely misinterpreted as blind obedience. However, there were various experimental conditions that influenced participant responses, highlighting the importance of context and leadership. Milgram's role as a leader and the participants' engagement with the project contributed to their willingness to comply. Similar dynamics of identification and engaged followership can be seen in real-life examples of tyranny, such as the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Milgram Shock Experiment demonstrates that people are recruited into evil projects through leadership and identification, rather than simply following orders.