Opinions On Milgram's Experiment example essay topic

The essay, "The Perils of Obedience", by Stanley Milgram, proves through consistent experiments that very few people can resist orders that come from authority figures. Diana Baumrind, author of "Review of Stanley Milgram's Experiments on Obedience", criticizes Milgram on a few situations involved with the experiment that she disagreed with. Milgram performed the experiment to research the amount of people who obey or disobey authority, and if they obey, how far they actually go before realizing they could be causing serious harm to an innocent person. Baumrind points out the important subjects in Milgram's essay and shares her views on them by explaining why he is wrong. Baumrind claims that the experience the subjects were involved in was very traumatic and emotionally disturbing. Milgram states that the subjects were spoken to in a serene and relaxed environment after the experiment was conducted and the situation was explained to them so that they understood none of it was real.

Baumrind says, .".. his casual assurance that these tensions were dissipated before the subject left the laboratory is unconvincing". (pg. 331) She says this because the experience the subject went through was so realistic and intense that it makes them think twice about whether or not they can forget what happened even though they know it wasn't real. The emotions were real and the images of what was happening in the other room were real to the test subjects. Baumrind also strongly believes that the subject may have an extremely difficult time trusting adult authorities and could alter their self-image in the future. Milgram is convinced that the subjects are on perfectly normal grounds, as far as understanding that the experiment was false. In Milgram's perspective, the subjects will not be affected in any way because they know it was a hoax.

Baumrind points out that the "parallel between authority-subordinate relationships in Hitler's Germany and in Milgram's laboratory is unclear". (pg. 333) Members of the German Officer Corps would follow orders to slaughter because they perceived the victims as subhuman and not worthy of consideration. They did not feel guilt because they felt that they were doing what was right. In conclusion, Milgram and Baumrind both have varying opinions on Milgram's experiment, which makes it hard to know if the results from the experiment can be considered to be completely accurate. They both have very strong points and hold their ground with their opinions and research. Although, Baumrind finishes her review by stating that she "would not like to see experiments such as Milgrams' proceed unless the subjects were fully informed of the dangers of serious aftereffects and his correctives were clearly shown to be effective in restoring their state of well being". (pg. 334).