Introduction
The primary ethical concern about Milgram’s 1961 experiment was that the participants were not briefed fully about the nature of the study. Therefore, when participating, they believed they had little choice, and it created emotional stress and made people upset that they were hurting someone, being aware of it or not due to the psychological effect of submitting to authority.
Discussion
Most modern ethical standards indicate that the participants in any human research experiment cannot be deceived. According to the BPS (2021) standards, valid consent can only be obtained when the participant is given “sufficient
information to enable them to make an informed choice” (p.12). One way that the experiment could be redesigned to meet ethical standards is that the participants are notified about the nature of the experiment, knowing that it is testing authority and that the shocks they are causing are not real, and they are not secretly part of another experiment as Milgram’s original study went.
The method of the study could be improved by doing more to ensure the well-being of the participants. A professor at Santa Clara University attempted to replicate the study in 2007, and one key safeguard implemented was to create a rigorous two-tier sampling process. At initial phone interviews, any subjects with potential psychological issues, traumas, disorders, and otherwise were removed.
Conclusion
Further, the subjects had to complete an anxiety and depression measure as well as an interview with a clinical psychologist to ensure the utmost mental health and stability (Mills, 2009). Another way the study could be improved would be to allow the participant voluntarily to feel the level of shock they are distributing. Potentially, experiencing the pain themselves along with the ‘learner’ would present greater empathy and greater resistance to authority.
References
BPS. (2021). BPS code of human research ethics. Web.
Mills, K.I. (2009). More shocking results: New research replicates Milgram’s findings.Monitor on Psychology, 40(3), 13.