Franc Turner
Anyone out there familiar with the Milgram Experiments? They were a series of replicated studies which took place in the 1960’s to see if normal people could be made to commit (what they believed to be) heinous acts against their fellow human beings simply because an authority figure told them that they “must continue.”
The test subjects were made to believe that it was a study on “the effects of pain on learning,” and that the subjects were in control of what they believed to be an “electrical shock delivery” to the other participant (actor) if a question was answered incorrectly. The “voltage” was increased each time the “learner” got an answer wrong. The “learners” (actors) would scream out in pain as the shocks were delivered. They, the actors, would plead that they had heart conditions and beg the test subjects to stop. The authority figure in the room would simply tell the subject in a calm manner, “Please continue,” or “You must continue,” or “ For the sake of the experiment, you must continue.” Many participants continued until they believed the learner was deceased.
While the nature of the experiment is rather shocking (pardon the pun) in and of itself, what’s even more alarming is the tangible “power” that those in perceived positions of authority can yield. The vast majority of the actual test subjects continued what they believed to be the torturing of their fellow participants well past the point where they were personally uncomfortable with what they were being told to do, merely because someone in a lab coat gave them “orders” to carry it out. Well over half the subjects even delivered what they believed to be the final, fatal shock to the “learner.” They didn’t have to have a gun held to their head, nor did they need any kind of threat towards their own safety in any way. This experiment demonstrated that all that is needed for most people to commit violent or even murderous acts is simply the request of an authority figure in uniform.
When these experiments were conducted decades ago, the percentage of ordinary people who delivered the final shock was 65%. Modern day replications of the experiment have shown that even higher percentages of participants will deliver the final shock.
With everything that’s been happening in the world the past week, I think these experiments should be a good reminder to people that it is EXTREMELY easy for those in power to get ordinary people to do anything and everything they want… simply because they say it… “You must.”
Sure, take precautions against illness. But, also, take a look around at how quickly all aspects of life are now under the commands of those “authorities” who’ve granted themselves the “power” to regulate all aspects of society. This isn’t about the virus, folks.
