Are we mostly programmed by authority?

[R1Geezer]

http://tinyurl.com/ye4bxlo
The French repeat of a 1961 Yale experiment shows that most people will follow "orders", reagardless. What conclusions can we draw from these experiments. The Nazis often said they were following orders, are these people any different? Can we all be made to voluntarily do unspeakable things by an authority figure? Are the feral yobs we often moaning about just trying to resist being "programmed" themselves?

[Seadragon]

I seen this kind of experiment conducted before on tv and most candidates although uncomfortable with pushing the shock button actually did because they thought that the interests of science went before the pain they were actually inflicting upon the person. Given a convinceable environment, although people may be skeptical most will carry out their instructions. It's all about psychological manipulation to attain your means and people fall for it.

[jake-the-peg]

Or that people will treat other humans apallingly because they're told that the people in question are illegal immigrants trying to sponge off of us?

something like that?

[Old_Geezer]

We all have a tendency not to get ourselves in trouble, and to trust the authority figures know more than we, but no, there are some that will rebel.

It has nothing to do with yobs who are folk unable to empathise or care what their actions are doing to others.

[society]

"Are we mostly programmed by authority?"

No. But, they tend to steer the minds of some though because of their authoritative place in society.

[R1Geezer]

well done jake now put the dummy back in and have a go at the question. You are one of the ones I would have expected to get sensible answer from. Besides I don't think giving away things to people is treating them "appallingly".

[Seadragon]

You don't need to take a personal swipe Geezer.

There is some truth there in what you say Jake. Not all illegal immigrants are spongers but people do, as others say here, believe in what the media tells them. The Secret Millionaire episode this week was good and showed immigrants who were demoralised because they wanted to work in this Country and couldn't. We don't often hear their stories in the papers?

[R1Geezer]

Ok can we not turn this into an immigrant discussion please. Please stick to the question. Thanks

[sp1814]

Seadragon - we don't hear their stories because newspapers in general have an agenda to follow. They will print what their readers want to read, and won't muddy the water with anything which might make them think (as opposed to 'react').

Old_Geezer - very good point about people not wanting to 'cause trouble'.

[Seadragon]

Ok Geezer, we shall stick to the question. No more diversions, right hand or left hand turns.

I think the opposite Old Geezer, its more about manipulation of a person than whether one can rebel or not? I don't think the 'feral yobs' (awful label) resist being 'programmed', infact one can say that they don't have any 'programming' to begin with. Sorry this is a time-consuming and complex subject and I have a talk to prepare. I put the thread back on track though.

[Oneeyedvic]

Nothing particularly new - this was done by Derren Brown in The Heist - forward to 22 mins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1V6rJ1qreA

[ludwig]

Further information on the original experiment.

http://en.wikipedia.o...ki/Milgram_experiment

[Oneeyedvic]

Zeuhl - I am aware of the Milgram experiment - I meant nothing in new as in nothing new regarding doing it for a tv show. Derren Brown and indeed R1 Geezer in his question refer to the original experiment