Derren Brown's Recreation of the Milgram Experiment

Summary

The script describes a reenactment of Stanley Milgram's 1963 experiment on obedience to authority, where participants believe they are part of an academic study on punishment and learning. Unknowingly, they administer escalating electric shocks to a confederate, following orders from an authority figure. The experiment reveals a chilling obedience, with over fifty percent of subjects continuing to the maximum shock level. The results echo Milgram's findings, demonstrating a profound willingness to inflict harm when instructed by an authority figure.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The script describes a reenactment of Stanley Milgram's 1963 experiment to test obedience to authority.
• 🎓 The subjects were led to believe they were participating in an academic study on the effects of punishment on learning.
• 👨‍🏫 The subjects were told they were 'teachers' in the experiment, tasked with administering electric shocks to a 'learner' for incorrect answers.
• 🔌 The shocks were fake, but the subjects were led to believe they could be lethal, with the voltage increasing for each wrong answer.
• 👨‍🔬 The 'scientist' was an actor, and the 'learner' received scripted responses to shocks, all part of the staged experiment.
• 📈 The experiment aimed to see if subjects would continue to administer shocks despite the learner's protests, up to a maximum of 450 volts.
• 🤔 The subjects were conflicted, with some expressing concern for the learner's pain and others continuing to follow orders.
• 📊 Over 50% of participants continued to the highest shock level, mirroring the results of Milgram's original experiment.
• 👥 The script reveals the selection process for a heist team, based on the subjects' responses to authority during the experiment.
• 🚫 One subject, Vicky, recognized the Milgram experiment and stopped her involvement, demonstrating critical thinking and resistance to authority.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the experiment described in the transcript?

The experiment was designed to test the limits of participants' responsiveness to authority, reenacting Stanley Milgram's 1963 experiment to see how normal people can commit atrocious acts simply because they're following orders.

Who was Stanley Milgram and why was his work relevant to the experiment?

Stanley Milgram was a psychologist who conducted pioneering work on obedience to authority. His parents were Jewish refugees during World War II, and his experiments shed light on the nature of responsibility and obedience, which was relevant to the experiment's theme.

How were the participants deceived into participating in the experiment?

Participants were led to believe they were taking part in an academic research project at the university, supposedly investigating the effects of punishment on learning, and were unaware that it was a reenactment of Milgram's experiment.

What role did the actor pretending to be another participant play in the experiment?

The actor played the role of the 'learner,' who was supposedly receiving electric shocks for incorrect answers, to deceive the 'teacher' participants into thinking the experiment was real.

What was the range of the electric shocks in the experiment?

The shocks ranged from 15 volts up to a lethal 450 volts, although no real shocks were administered.

What was the key question the experiment aimed to answer?

The experiment aimed to answer whether the 'teachers' (participants) would stop the experiment or continue to administer seemingly lethal electric shocks to the 'learner' simply because they were told to by an authority figure.

How did the participants react when asked to administer higher voltage shocks?

Participants showed varying degrees of discomfort and resistance, with some continuing to the highest voltage and others stopping before reaching the lethal level.

What was the outcome of the experiment in terms of obedience to authority?

Over fifty percent of the participants continued up to 450 volts, mirroring the results of the original Milgram experiment, showing a high level of obedience to authority figures.

How were the subjects chosen for the heist based on the experiment?

The subjects were chosen based on their resourcefulness, responsiveness to authority, and their reactions during the experiment. Phil, Vicky, and Ali were selected due to their respective behaviors and reactions.

Why was Jen not chosen for the heist despite being a subject?

Jen was not chosen because she took a long time to recover after the Milgram experiment, indicating she might not be suitable for the heist.

What was the significance of Vicky's awareness of the original Milgram experiment?

Vicky's awareness of the original experiment was significant because it showed her ability to recognize the situation and make a conscious decision to stop her involvement, demonstrating critical thinking and resistance to authority.