Why ordinary people perform harmful acts under the command of authority

Science · Published 26 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: How much of your moral compass remains intact when someone in a position of power tells you to ignore it? Stanley Milgram’s landmark study revealed that human beings are often capable of performing actions they find morally distressing simply because they were instructed to do so by an authority figure.

Conducted by social psychologist Stanley Milgram, these controversial experiments investigated the dynamics of obedience. In a classic setup, a volunteer participant—assigned the role of 'teacher'—was instructed by an authority figure (the experiment conductor) to administer what they believed were painful shocks to another person. The study aimed to uncover why individuals might follow orders despite experiencing significant internal moral conflict. The study was first conducted in 1962. It specifically looked at how people behave when faced with a conflict between their own values and external commands.

The research highlights how social pressure and roles can override personal ethics. It suggests that the human tendency toward blind compliance is a powerful force in social behavior. By examining these interactions, Milgram provided insights into how societies can be influenced by authority and what mechanisms exist to prevent harmful actions driven by such obedience. This research helps clarify the distinction between stereotypes and prejudice within social psychology. It also examines how specific roles and expectations shape individual actions in group settings.

While the experiment remains one of psychology's most influential works, it also sparked intense debate regarding ethical concerns in research. It serves as a foundational piece of social psychology—the scientific study of human behavior in cultural and social settings—helping researchers understand why people may harm or help one another based on their environment. Social psychology as a field grew rapidly after roughly 1925. Modern experts now apply these findings to diverse areas like advertising design, child rearing advice, and the rehabilitation of convicts.

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