The Milgram Experiment: Video and links +

In 1961, psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a series of experiments to measure the influence of authority on human behaviour, specifically on people’s willingness to perform acts that conflicted with their personal conscience. The results were to shock the entire world as they revealed, yet again, the dark side of human nature. This seminal work in social psychology came to be known as the Milgram Experiment.

Later Prof. Milgram would discuss his findings in his book Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View.

Here’s a video of one of the experiments.

There’s a longer length one on Google Video, though not quite the same quality.

A few links:

• Obedience to Authority (1974)
• When Good People Do Evil
• Resisting Authority: A Personal Account of the Milgram Obedience Experiments
• The Perils of Obedience

And here’s wishing all my Indian friends a Happy Independence Day. With freedom comes responsibility. Let’s do our best, today and every day.