Psychology

In determining the truth behind a phenomena, how far would science and society allow the seeker to come up with answers Exploring the ethical question in the practice of extracting truth out of seemingly unconscionable actions performed by society is as relevant today as in the Milgram experiment in the 1960s. Determine to ascertain how millions of people systematically participated in the extinction of a race during the Nazi period, psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a controversial experiment to observe how and in what circumstances people obey and defy authority. The primary ethical question is will an experiment designed to intentionally deceive human subjects pass the allowable standards established by science In the Milgram experiment, deception was employed on the part of the experimenters in that the subjects were 1) intentionally misinformed of the studys true nature and 2) were taking part in a process that required confederation or collaboration among the experimenters and the learners.

Operating under the guise of a learning and memory exercise, the subject (teacher) was instructed to punish the learner with electronic shocks when the latter could not answer correctly to questions. The subject believed that the learner actually experienced the shocks when in fact, the excruciating pain cried out by the learner was a rehearsed performance. The experiment was a breakthrough success and gave empirical basis to explain how individuals conform to social influence and obey to otherwise objectionable orders. In modern standards, however, the Milgram experiment must fail in ethics. I, for one, would most likely decline to participate in an experiment such as this. Today, there are strict controls in experimentation established in order to ensure the protection of human subjects so that their participation is understood to be voluntarily and having been accepted with full disclosure of the nature of the experiment and the confidentiality of the results. Whatever legitimacy the Milgram experiment acquired during that time, it was because of the righteousness of its cause. It wanted to explain how a people could collectively commit such evil deeds without the pain of conscience and perhaps resolve one of the most tragic events to confront mankind. Nonetheless, the emphasis now is clear. The rights of the human subject are protected and whatever quest for truth for whatever motivation must pass the allowable ethical standards.