The Original Milgram Experiment 1961 - Essay Example

In retrospect, the advantage Milgram had in overlooking the ethical concerns in a way make his study more authentic, considering the subject of the study.Milgram’s methods were ethical because they did not put the subjects to any actual risk, except exposing them to a moral pain, which was temporary and in a way necessary to the very nature of the experiment.Though Burger’s study was conducted 50 years later and was in compliance with the prevalent ethical standards, still he found the obedience rates to be almost identical to what the Milgram found in 1961.

This indeed points towards the existence of an essential instinct in the humans to be subservient to the commands of the authority figures, even when those commands tend to be contrary to their moral beliefs. The Burger’s results do open a new area for research in the sphere of human psychology.I personally feel that the researchers also need to focus on the mindset of the subjects who refused to comply with the dictates of the experimenter. The Milgram study makes it essential to understand what stops certain people from adhering to the commands of authority figures if they are contrary to their moral beliefs.

The conclusions drawn in this context could open up immense possibilities in the area of modern education.