The effects of potential self-inflicted harm on obedience to an authority figure

Abstract

In this study we examined the willingness of 17 college students to obey the request of an authority figure despite posted signs that suggested there would be potential harm to the subjects themselves if they complied with the request. More subjects disobeyed the authority figure (obeyed the signs) than obeyed the authority figure. These findings are in contrast to Milgram’s (1963) research and suggest that willingness to obey an authority figure is affected by potential harm directed at the subjects themselves. © 1988, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.