So now you know the set up of the experiment and if not you can go through yesterday’s blog
https://ramadocblog.com/2026/10/18/milgram-experiment/
The most ‘shocking’ part of the experiment were the results!
Before the study, Milgram polled psychiatrists, students, and colleagues to predict the outcome.
They believed in humanity and with that predicted that only a tiny fraction—around 1% to 3% (deemed “sadists”)—would go all the way to the maximum 450 volts!
Remember that the participant does not know that the shock is not real! He believes that the shock is real and happening right in front of him! So to go all the away and shock someone like that is really scary!
In fact the actual results stunned the psychological community!
65% of participants (26 out of 40) administered the maximum, potentially fatal 450-volt shock!
100% of participants continued up to 300 volts, at which point the Learner would bang on the walls in agony before stopping all responses! Which actually indicates the person is either very injured or even dead!
But even at this point many participants showed signs of extreme stress, sweating, trembling, stuttering, and biting their lips, yet they continued to obey the authority figure!
The authority figure’s statement was the final! If he told them to continue then more often that not, they would! Scary was also that many did not need to be told to continue!
The Key Takeaways & Ethical Impact of the experiment was that the experiment provided profound insights into human behavior and permanently changed the rules of psychological research!
Milgram concluded that ordinary people, simply doing their jobs and without any particular hostility, can become agents in a terribly destructive process if directed by a perceived legitimate authority.
This leads to the theory called the Agency Theory!
Milgram proposed that people switch from an autonomous state (where they take personal responsibility for their actions) to an agentic state (where they see themselves as instruments for carrying out another person’s wishes).
The intense psychological distress experienced by the participants (who genuinely believed they were torturing or killing someone) sparked massive controversy. It led to strict new ethical standards for modern human research, including the requirement for thorough debriefing and minimizing psychological harm.
Then again the experiment only showed many the PROVERBIAL MIRROR into their soul…if they had any that is…
Then again a fast soul was the flying Sikh Milkha Singh!
Now stop looking so shocked and sleep!
Shubh ratri…
