Essentials of Sociology (12th Edition)
Essentials of Sociology (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134205984
Author: Henslin
Publisher: PEARSON
Question
Chapter 5, Problem 1FYC-156
Summary Introduction

Concept introduction:

One must consider the basic tenets of sociological research, which are openness, honesty, truthfulness, and protecting the researcher’s subjects from harm, when deciding if such research should be

allowed or not.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Suggested responses:

In Milgram’s experiment, subjects were deceived about what was actually taking place in the experiment, and were exposed to extreme emotional duress, and some critics say they were not adequately debriefed afterward. Some participants were told they were merely assisting when they were actually the subjects, and the experimenter’s actual assistants were positioned as volunteers in the famous and infamous experiment involving administering higher and higher voltages of electric shocks to other participants, an activity falsely positioned as a “learning and memory” experiment.

While no electric shocks were actually administered, participants were led to believe that they were causing extreme and increasing pain to those they were “shocking” for giving incorrect answers. Milgram himself believed that the criticism of his experiment was based on the reluctance to accept such negative revelations about human nature, as the majority of the subjects increased the “voltage” to the highest possible level upon command from the experimenter, despite the “screams” from the recipient and even when given the option to withdraw.

The findings did indeed provide significant information about obedience and authority, gave insights into the crimes of the Nazi regime, and continue to have far-reaching implications for the military, the penal system, law enforcement, and human interaction with authority in general. The experiment proved that regular people can become willing agents of horrific acts, with little ability or inclination to resist authority. The social science community is divided on whether that valuable knowledge and its applications justify violating the sociological code of ethics.

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Chapter 5 Solutions

Essentials of Sociology (12th Edition)

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