SOC 1010 Unit IV Journal Reflection

Journal Reflection

Unit IV

SOC 1010, Introduction to Sociology

Columbia Southern University

Journal Reflection SOC 1010 Unit IV

For this journal entry, I was asked to answer two questions. First, do I believe Milgram’s experiment was ethical? Then explain why or why not. Secondly, If I were the teacher in the experiment, do I think I would respond differently with my willingness to shock the student based on the person’s background factors (gender, age, religion, etc.)? Why, or why not?

PART I

I do not think that Dr. Stanley Milgram’s experiment was ethical. I say this because he was basically manipulating the minds of his volunteers/teachers. I can fully understand what he was trying to learn but that does not make it an ethical act. The problem with asking if I perceive this to be an ethical experiment is flawed in itself, the reason behind that is ethics are personality based. What I think is an ethical or unethical act could be completely different from many other people. This is because my ethics are shaped by my upbringing, beliefs, and experiences.

PART II

If I was the teacher in the experiment I would like to think I would not follow someone’s directions of shocking someone when they respond with an incorrect answer. I also would like to think that I would not change this decision based on someone’s background factors. At a younger age I think I would have defiantly been susceptible to this experiment. Since I have been in the military for a good amount of time I have learned that just because I am told or asked to do something I should also make sure it is not an unethical request. My leaders have taught me to think for myself and to not follow directions just to do it. I should know the reasons behind the requests and fully understand what effects that my actions will have. Shocking someone because they answered a question incorrectly is downright barbaric and I cannot see how it has any type of positive effect on the learner.