The Psychology of Obedience to perceived Power

This is NOT a right wing or left wing rant. It deals with human perception, the identification with power - powers which at some level are respected and completely mainstream. During the Milgram experiment, the participants agreed to participate, because they viewed science as something overall positive and benefiting humanity. Most participants had deep moral objections, once they perceived, that their subjects were experiencing pain. Yet, 62 % of participants agreed to continue, because they TRUSTED the authority figure, in this case, a scientist, because they believed that the experiment itself, would either be for the greater good of human kind, or simply because they were afraid to challenge ANY authority figure, period. In other, later, experiments, religious dogma was perceived as the overall good, with almost equal results.
But the question remains, how far are YOU willing to FOLLOW anything, even though you experience grave reservations and doubts about what you are ACTUALLY doing?
Situations in REAL life are far more complex than this series of experiments, and oftentimes do not involve such extremes. But it is very important questions to ask yourself...how far would you go to defend your belief system? Would you kill others to make it happen? Or would you simply stay on the sidelines, letting others to do the killing for you? Are you REALLY acting in self-defense? or it is just a perceived threat, drummed into you by the corporate media elite, so that you believe in pre-emptive attacks, which you believe MIGHT happen? Would you be willing to kill innocents in order to make your point and prevent some future attack, which you believe is coming any day now, or would you try to prevent violence whenever possible?
I also want to make it perfectly clear here, regarding the discussion of education and schools, that my critique applies to BOTH public and PRIVATE education. I also want to make clear, that religious dogma of any kind, has no place in a science curriculum. Different viewpoints are ok, but to teach children that the earth merely 6000 years old, and that evolution is merely theory, is quite frankly idiotic, which is why creationists are trying so damn hard to gain credibility under the cover of science. Science is not infallible and oftentimes wrong, but this type of inquiry does NOT posit itself as some overall knowing thing. In fact, it admits its mistakes (if you leave the commercial bullshit out of this), and is far more open to seeking knowledge + understanding of our surroundings, and our existence in general.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Eye
• for
• philosophy
• Banality
• of
• Evil
• Hannah
• Arendt
• Milgram
• Experiment
• Obedience
• to
• Leadership
• Psychology
• Human
• interaction
• Defensive
• versus
• aggressive
• actions
• Withdrawal
• Consent
• Non-cooperation
• Non-Violent
• Resistance
• People
• Power
• Manipulation

[DynaCatlovesme]

It would be a good thing, I think, to subject every high school student to a re-created Milgram experiment--get it ingrained in the collective conscious. Obviously, word would get out in advance and every student would "pass," but that's not the point--the point is awareness.

[55ella2007k]

@DynaCatlovesme Actually, I don't think that prior awareness would be a good idea. The reactions of those who took part, the 'awareness', as you put it, came AFTER, not during. I could tell you some very serious examples from my own family - anecdotal stuff, of course.

[DynaCatlovesme]

@55ella2007k I agree, but it wouldn't be doable since the thing couldn't be kept a secret from the next group of kids.

[55ella2007k]

@DynaCatlovesme not necessarily, since their attention span is already restricted to the last week or so. Give it ten years or so... and nobody will even remember that it even took place. People are already saying that the landing on the moon never took place either... :)

[TEARDUCTER]

Promises are like Babies easy to make hard to deliver :)

[carefulcarpenter]

I spoke out recently against a representative of the utility company who used deceptive tactics to fulfill his role in the hierarchy. Interesting how my neighbors cowered and turned away as I confronted the agent. I felt they were shunning me as I revealed how the deception is repeated against their own interests.

You have brought up a great point: the Psychology of Obedience to Perceived Expertise and authority.

I'm becoming less accepted in my "progressive" neighborhood.

[Zyworski]

If you think that it is bad when the lobotomized lemmings of the New Age are are seduced by the siren call of perceived authority, just wait till they get some authority of their own. In the Stanford prison experiment the subjects assigned as guards adapted to their roles well beyond what was expected, leading the "Officers" to display authoritarian measures and ultimately to subject some of the prisoners to torture. Conversely many of the prisoners became passive and accepted physical abuse.

[valhala56]

The only Obama supporters I can think of is Beltway Obama Minions. Outside of Politicians folowing orders, and his Corporate backers and Party Lackeys I can't think of anybody in middle America who still supports the Polite Führer.

Everybody I talk to is at best dissapointed most harbor extreme dislike of his policies and favortism to the Wall Street & Military Industrial Complex Power Cartels.

[airforcemax]

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

[valhala56]

@55ella2007k I'm with the person who said the Milgram experiment should be done in High school and college. Sure kids mostly won't take it seriosly at the time, will look at as a game however culturely it would introduce everybody to the concepts that the experiment showed following the Nazi & other totalatarian regimes. As it is most people only have vague ideas what this experiment demonstrated.

By the way that was the heyday of great Social Psycholgy Experiments that have long past.

[badattitude77769]

Authority figures do not always get there by hard work and honesty, many are members of the good old boys club, and those are some that you have to watch out for, they are beholden to the club, not you nor your family.

[tenebroust]

Excellent video Ella. Those experiments were made into a movie that came out last year I think. We need more broad philosophical thinking these days.

[OrwellsDaughter]

Excellent vid, Ella...which is really redundant at this point since all your vids are superb.

You've inspired me to make a response vid...will start uploading now...you'll likely be in Winkin Blinkin & Nod ville by the time it's up.

[IChoseTheRedPill]

i love you in a i love the universe kind of way. every one of your videos seem well thought out. that said, you always make me think about things in a way i rarely have an opportunity to do so. your passion is contagious, i get myself in trouble with my wife when i try to engage her politically. sadly she is one of those people who think the world is 6000 years old but i still love her with all my heart.

man is capable of terrible things. one day our military will be used against us...

Kensho