A lego experiment illustrating the famous Milgram experiment of the 1960s. A psychology experiment that demonstrated the powerful influence authority figures have on people's behaviour and the extent to which people will obey even extreme orders from these figures.

1. The Milgram experiment
People obey extreme orders from authority figures

2. In 1961 Stanley Milgram began carrying out a series
of now notorious experiments testing the extent to
which people would obey instructions from an
authority figure if those instructions involved
harming another person

3. Participant Stooge Stooge

4. At the start of the experiment participants were
introduced to another ‘participant’ (actually a
confederate of the researcher)
The participants drew lots to determine who would be
the ‘teacher’ and who would be the ‘learner’ (although
this was fixed so that the confederate would always
become the learner)

5. Teacher Learner
Experimenter

6. The learner was taken into one room and strapped into
an electric chair
They were then given a list of word pairs to memorise

7. Sit here please

8. This looks
ominous…

9. The teacher was then taken into another room
containing an electric shock generator

10. You will use this apparatus
to teach the learner when
they make a mistake
Low voltage –
slight shock
Danger –
severe shock

11. The teacher tested the learner by reading out the first word in
each of the pairs and offering four options for the learner to
choose the second paired word from
When the learner responded correctly, the teacher did nothing

12. I’m glad he got
that right

13. When the learner gave a wrong answer, the teacher was
told to administer an electric shock, increasing the
voltage each time another wrong answer was given
The learner gave mostly wrong answers (on purpose)
The responses to the shocks that the teacher heard
were tape recordings

14. Please continue
Aargh!
Oh no!

15. If the teacher protested as the voltage went up, the
experimenter gave four scripted answers insisting
they continue
If the participant maintained their protest after all four
orders had been given the experiment ended
Otherwise the experiment ended after the teacher had
administered the highest shock – 450 volts

16. The experiment requires
you to continue
Please
don’t!
This is
horrible!

17. It is absolutely essential
that you continue
Please I have a
heart condition — I
can’t take this!
I can’t believe
they’re making me do
this!

18. You have no other choice
but to continue
…
WHY?!!!

19. Two thirds of participants (teachers) administered
electric shocks up to the highest level (450 volts) –
even though this would have been fatal
All participants administered shocks up to 300 volts

20. Conclusion
The majority of people will obey orders from authority
figures even to the extent of killing an innocent person

21. Reference
Behavioural Study of Obedience
The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, Vol 67(4), Oct 1963, 371-378
Stanley Milgram