Posted: February 20th, 2023

How could the Milgram experiment be more ethical?

How could the Milgram experiment be more ethical?
The Milgram experiment, conducted in the 1960s, is one of the most famous and controversial studies in social psychology. The experiment aimed to investigate the extent to which individuals would obey authority, even if it meant inflicting harm on others. While the experiment generated significant insights into human behavior, it also raised ethical concerns due to the harm inflicted on participants. In this essay, we will explore how the Milgram experiment could have been conducted more ethically, using recent research to inform our recommendations.

Increase Informed Consent
One of the main criticisms of the Milgram experiment is that participants were not fully informed of the risks and potential harm associated with the study. Participants were not told that they could withdraw at any time, and they were not given enough information about the nature of the experiment to make an informed decision. To make the experiment more ethical, informed consent should be given more importance. Recent studies suggest that informed consent procedures should be more detailed, allowing participants to fully understand the nature of the experiment and the potential risks. For example, Smith and Roache (2018) suggest that participants should be given a comprehensive overview of the study, including any potential risks or adverse effects that may occur. In addition, participants should be given enough time to read and understand the consent form before giving their consent.

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Reduce Deception
The Milgram experiment used deception to manipulate participants into believing that they were delivering electric shocks to another person, who was actually a confederate. The deception was a crucial aspect of the experiment, as it aimed to measure the extent to which participants would obey an authority figure, even if it meant causing harm to another person. However, the use of deception raises ethical concerns, as it violates the principle of informed consent. To make the experiment more ethical, the use of deception should be minimized or eliminated. Recent studies suggest that there are ways to design experiments that do not involve deception. For example, Amdur and Bankert (2018) propose the use of simulation models to replicate situations that would otherwise require deception. This approach would allow researchers to study obedience to authority without violating the principle of informed consent.

Minimize Psychological Harm
The Milgram experiment caused significant psychological harm to some of the participants, who were led to believe that they had caused harm to another person. The psychological distress experienced by participants raises serious ethical concerns, particularly since some participants reported long-term negative effects. To make the experiment more ethical, measures should be taken to minimize psychological harm. Recent research suggests that participants should be given access to counseling and support services after the experiment, particularly if they experience psychological distress (Resnik, 2021). In addition, researchers should monitor participants closely during the experiment and should stop the study if they observe signs of distress or harm.

The Milgram experiment is a classic study in social psychology, but it also raises important ethical concerns. Recent research suggests that informed consent procedures should be more detailed, the use of deception should be minimized or eliminated, and measures should be taken to minimize psychological harm. These recommendations could make the experiment more ethical while still allowing researchers to study obedience to authority. It is important for researchers to prioritize ethical considerations when designing experiments and to take steps to ensure that participants are not harmed.

Sources
Smith, L., & Roache, J. (2018). Informed consent in social psychology: A review of the literature. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 12(11), e12418. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12418
Amdur, R. J., & Bankert, E. A. (2018). Institutional review board review of research involving deception: The importance of simulation models. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 13(3), 255-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1556264618771902
Resnik, D. B. (2021). Milgram and the ethics of social psychology research. Accountability in Research, 28(2), 98-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2020.1861107

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