Would you push the button?

The tl;dr version - would you push a button that could potentially kill someone because someone in an authoritarian position told you so?

Some of you may have heard of the Milgram experiment, but for those of you who haven't - it was an experiment of obedience that was carried out in the 60's. The basis is this - two strangers would meet in the waiting room first. They were given the titles of "teacher" and "learner". The teacher would be placed in a room, with the scientist conducting the experiment behind them, and the learner would be in a different room. They could hear but not see each other.

The teacher would ask the learner a question and if the learner got it wrong, they would be shocked in 15volt increments for each wrong answer. Only there would be no electric shock and the learner was an actor, yet the teacher did not know this. Eventually they would reach what the teacher thought was 450volts, with the scientist behind them telling them to.

It was found that 65% of people that took part were willing to give an electric shock to a stranger that could potentially kill them (in one instance, a learner mentioned having a heart condition) because someone in authority told them so.

So, would you?

For further viewing - here is the original video
Video one (starts properly at the 9:29-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2PGnHHnRMk

Hande hoche!

No

Depends on how snazzy the uniform of the authoritarian figure is.

Micky Dolenz

Probably, just for the craic like.

Mr Benevolent

Yes, and so would you, OP.

stovelid

Am I receiving a large salary from this figure of authority?

bonerm

I would if it led to hilarious results like these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn7-JZq0Yxs

WindSock

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Depends on how snazzy the uniform of the authoritarian figure is.

This or how fancy the button.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzYAdGl_0mA

2:56 of this one

The Shtig

No I wouldn't however if it was someone who commited a serious crime (e.g murder, rape) to someone especially my family or friends I think I would.

If they had a terminal illness and was suffering greatly and wanted to die then maybe I would as well, if it was a loved one it would be a very tough decision.

sdanseo

No

Too many variables, however I think in a lot of situations I would so I voted yes.

The Shtig

The Shtig wrote: »

No I wouldn't however if it was someone who commited a serious crime (e.g murder, rape) to someone especially my family or friends I think I would.

If they had a terminal illness and was suffering greatly and wanted to die then maybe I would as well, if it was a loved one it would be a very tough decision.

That's not the purpose though. You know nothing of the other person and have never met them before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSiMM_GIiyA This guy is actually quite creepy - from about 1:90 onwards he protests but still shocks the other person, even giving him 450volts twice.

antodeco

Once its a not a priest on a plane!

biko

No

Yes, that's how I became a moderator.

alwaysadub

No

I'm very nosy-so i'd be dying to see what happens-so yes

Knasher

Isn't science fun.

The Shtig

Deleted User wrote: »

That's not the purpose though. You know nothing of the other person and have never met them before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSiMM_GIiyA This guy is actually quite creepy - from about 1:90 onwards he protests but still shocks the other person, even giving him 450volts twice.

Oh sorry, I definately wouldn't my conscience would drive me insane especailly thinking it could be a child or a father or mother.

That video is very strange.

Ronin247

No

Think I would probably need very little encouragement.

There's a lot of messed up people in AH evidently

scientific1982

No because I've always had a problem taking orders.

Deise Musashi

I would run in and hit the button before being told to, make a good first impression on our new Overlord's!

Mahatma coat

No

Well in that Situation then YES, YES YES YES :D

Basicly there is someone with the authority to Sanction you Torturing and possibly Murdering another Human being.

If you can Kill the person in the other room without fear of Legal ramifications then I'm all on for it, hell I'd quit my dayjob to comit more time to it.

Altho I'd probably get bored with not being able to see them so I'd probably ask to shake things up a bit, maybe do someone with a knife, or re enact that scene from the Killing Fields to See how long it really takes to kill someone with a blue plastic Bag, ya know in keeping witht teh initial 'Scientific' nature of the study

Only if I was wearing a similar uniform but with lass fancy bits. Important thing being the little flag on the shoulder matching the authoritarian guy's little flag on the shoulder.

Replace "button" with "trigger" and it becomes target practice. Come get some yeh commie bastards.

Wagon

This was in a Darren Brown yoke about robbing a security van. It was fascinating really. Was slightly disturbing to see how willing some people were to stick 300 volts or something through someone's body.

That said, if I knew and hated the person in the waiting room...

Son Of A Vidic

No - I've never been one to blindly obey anyone. I'd make my own conclusion on whether the button needed pressing or not.

HUNK

Well it depends...I mean, how BIG of a button are we talkin' about here.
And is it red. I like the colour red.

FatherLen

derren browne did this test in one of his shows. it was class. i dont know if i would press the button because the point of the test is that you dont know what the buttons are doing but everytime you press one, you hear a scream. so until i was there i do not know.

Adam

FatherLen wrote: »

derren browne did this test in one of his shows. it was class. i dont know if i would press the button because the point of the test is that you dont know what the buttons are doing but everytime you press one, you hear a scream. so until i was there i do not know.

no, the point of the test would be to find out how easily swayed you are by a figure of authority! the people being shocked are actors...

Sanjuro

No way, man. Don't conform, man. It's the man wanting you to do what the man says, man. Man man man man man, man. FIGHT THE POWER.



But really, no. I have no desire to cause another human being pain, no matter what anyone in 'authority' says.

scarymoon1

No

well if that person in authority was going to kill me unless I did it then yes id pull the trigger. But if I just got a slap on the wrist for not pulling the trigger then no I wouldnt do it. Depends on the consequences for not doing it.

kfallon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPPdRP1oa_A

-Trek-

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Well in that Situation then YES, YES YES YES :D

Basicly there is someone with the authority to Sanction you Torturing and possibly Murdering another Human being.

If you can Kill the person in the other room without fear of Legal ramifications then I'm all on for it, hell I'd quit my dayjob to comit more time to it.

Altho I'd probably get bored with not being able to see them so I'd probably ask to shake things up a bit, maybe do someone with a knife, or re enact that scene from the Killing Fields to See how long it really takes to kill someone with a blue plastic Bag, ya know in keeping witht teh initial 'Scientific' nature of the study

You need help

FatherLen

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Well in that Situation then YES, YES YES YES :D

Basicly there is someone with the authority to Sanction you Torturing and possibly Murdering another Human being.

If you can Kill the person in the other room without fear of Legal ramifications then I'm all on for it, hell I'd quit my dayjob to comit more time to it.

Altho I'd probably get bored with not being able to see them so I'd probably ask to shake things up a bit, maybe do someone with a knife, or re enact that scene from the Killing Fields to See how long it really takes to kill someone with a blue plastic Bag, ya know in keeping witht teh initial 'Scientific' nature of the study

your even weird for AH.

kowloon

I find this sort of thing extremely interesting. We are more easily led than we think. The Stanford prison experiment was another interesting one.

The Stanford prison experiment was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard.
The experiment was conducted from Aug. 14-20, 1971 by a team of researchers led by Psychology professor Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University.
Twenty-four students were selected out of 75 to play the prisoners and live in a mock prison in the basement of the Stanford psychology building. Roles were assigned randomly.
The participants adapted to their roles well beyond what even Zimbardo himself expected, leading the "Officers" to display authoritarian measures and ultimately to subject some of the prisoners to torture. In turn, many of the prisoners developed passive attitudes and accepted physical abuse, and, at the request of the guards, readily inflicted punishment on other prisoners who attempted to stop it. The experiment even affected Zimbardo himself, who, in his capacity as "Prison Superintendent," lost sight of his role as psychologist and permitted the abuse to continue as though it were a real prison.
Five of the prisoners were upset enough by the process to quit the experiment early, and the entire experiment was abruptly stopped after only six days. The experimental process and the results remain controversial.
The entire experiment was filmed, with excerpts soon made publicly available, leaving some disturbed by the resulting film.
Over 30 years later, Zimbardo found renewed interest in the experiment when the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal occurred.

Linky