Griggs et al. (2017) - Milgram's obedience study: A contentious classic reinterpreted

Question 1

What is meant by ‘contentious classic’

Answer 1

Milgram’s study should be considered as a classic and an important study, but its flaws should also be recognised.

Question 2

Problems with how Milgram’s studies are presented:

Answer 2

1. Psychological textbooks do not treat the studies as contentious
2. (Ethical) criticisms of the studies in textbooks are Milgram-friendly (benefit outweight costs)

Question 3

Griggs’s reinterpretation of the Milgram studies:

Answer 3

Participants often resist order-like prods, indicating that the experiments do not investigate obedience, but rather disobedience. Orders can result in disobedience. Instead, participants engage in the act of engaged followership (so no obedience) as they identify with the researcher and goal of the study, which motivates them to proceed. Quitting the experiment is quitting on this shared scientific goal. (Thus: studies measure engaged followership and not obedience)