i comme Icare. L'expérience Milgram racontée par Henri Verneuil.

Summary

This transcript depicts a reenactment of the Milgram experiment, where a participant is instructed by an authority figure to administer escalating electric shocks to another person for each incorrect answer. Despite the apparent suffering of the victim, the participant is urged to continue, revealing the power of obedience to authority. The script explores the moral dilemma faced by the subject as they struggle between their own conscience and the pressure from the authority figure, highlighting the extent to which individuals will go to comply with instructions, even when they contradict ethical principles.

Takeaways

• 😀 The experiment explores the concept of obedience to authority, with participants instructed to administer electric shocks to another individual.
• 😀 The experiment is based on a psychological theory that individuals learn more effectively when they know their mistakes will result in punishment.
• 😀 Participants are unaware that the electric shocks are fake, leading them to believe they are causing harm to another person.
• 😀 The authority figures, represented by the experimenters, insist that the participant continues with the experiment despite the apparent suffering of the 'victim'.
• 😀 The experiment involves a conflict between the participant's obedience to authority and their discomfort with causing harm to another person.
• 😀 The subject of the experiment (referred to as 'monsieur lespaul') is faced with an ethical dilemma about whether to obey or stop the procedure.
• 😀 As the shocks increase in intensity, the participant shows signs of distress and reluctance but is urged to continue by the authority figures.
• 😀 The experimenter assures the participant that they are not responsible for any harm caused, reinforcing the authority of the scientific setup.
• 😀 The subject is progressively pushed to administer shocks of up to 450 volts, despite their moral objections and visible distress.
• 😀 The experiment ultimately demonstrates how authority figures can influence individuals to act against their personal moral code and inflict harm.
• 😀 The experiment is a re-enactment or dramatization of the famous Milgram experiment on obedience to authority, with a staged victim and no actual shocks.

Q & A

What psychological theory does the script reference regarding learning and punishment?

The script references a theory established by psychologists which suggests that individuals learn more effectively when they know that each mistake will result in a punishment, highlighting the impact of punishment on learning behavior.

How does the experiment in the script test obedience?

The experiment tests obedience by asking the participant, referred to as 'Monsieur Despoils,' to administer increasing electric shocks to another person (who is actually an actor) when they answer questions incorrectly, under the direction of an authority figure.

What role does the potentiometer play in the experiment?

The potentiometer is used by the experimenter to simulate the increasing voltage of electric shocks administered to the 'victim' each time they answer incorrectly, providing the illusion that the participant is inflicting harm.

What is the ethical dilemma presented to the participant, Monsieur Despoils?

Monsieur Despoils faces a conflict between following the authority figure's instructions to continue administering shocks, and his own moral hesitation, especially as the 'victim' appears to be in increasing pain.

What psychological conflict is central to the experiment?

The central psychological conflict is the tension between obedience to authority and personal moral values. The participant struggles with whether to continue following orders or to stop when faced with distressing consequences for the 'victim.'

How does the experiment demonstrate the power of authority figures?

The experiment demonstrates the power of authority figures by showing how participants, despite clear moral discomfort, continue to obey the authority figure's commands, even when those commands cause harm to others.

What role does the authority figure (the professor) play in the experiment?

The professor acts as the authority figure who instructs the participant to continue administering shocks, even when the participant expresses doubt or moral conflict, reinforcing the theme of obedience.

How does the experiment address the concept of responsibility?

The experiment explores the idea of responsibility by suggesting that the authority figure takes full responsibility for the actions carried out by the participant, which can reduce the participant's sense of personal accountability.

What does the script suggest about human nature when faced with authority?

The script suggests that human nature may lean towards obedience in the face of authority, even when it conflicts with personal morals, revealing a tendency to follow orders rather than question authority.

How does the use of fake electric shocks impact the outcome of the experiment?

The use of fake electric shocks removes the physical harm element, focusing the experiment on psychological responses. The participants believe they are causing harm, which allows the study to examine the psychological effects of obedience without actual harm.