PSYCHOLOGY
psychology
bias
influence
obedience
Authority Bias: Following the Leader
We have a deep-seated instinct to obey authority figures, even when they are wrong. Doctors, police, experts. The Milgram Experiment.
Stanley Milgram• 5 min read
Milgram Experiment
In the famous experiment, participants administered what they thought were lethal electric shocks to a stranger, simply because a man in a lab coat told them to "please continue." 65% of people went all the way to 450 volts. We trust symbols of authority (uniforms, titles) more than we trust our own judgment.