The Milgram experiment
In psychology, conformity means an individual’s willingness to follow behaviors and unspoken rules of a particular group which they support. Solomon ASCH experimented with showing the power of submission to the group. In his experiment, learners were requested to take part in a test that involved vision. Without the knowledge of the matter, the rest persons who took part in the experiment were confederates. The Milgram experiment was incepted after the trial of the second world war criminal, Adolf Eichmann. Milgram developed an interest when Adolf claimed that he followed instructions when ordering people’s massive killing during the war. Although there are existing differences between the two experiments, they share some similarities.
One of the differences between the two experiments is that the participants ascribed themselves with their defective eyesight. In contrast, the Milgram participants threw to the experimenter for the result of their behavior. Conformity is less conspicuous than the pressure of authority.
The similarity between the two experiments is that both were biased. The participants in these experiments were males. The feminine gender was left out in the experiments, which questioned resulted in the questioning of the accuracy o the results gathered. Another similarity is that both were meant to demonstrate the influence of conformity in a group of people.
The Milgram study is considered unethical. The participants were deceived that they were shocking real persons, and they were made unaware that the learner was Milgram’s confederate. Milgram suggests that illusion is necessary for setting a stage for revealing specific difficulties to reach for the truth.
The Milgram and ASCH studies are beneficial in illustrating strengths and limitations in psychology and sociology laboratories.