A 2008 study by Martin and Bull provides a real-world example of obedience to authority in a professional environment. In the study, junior midwives complied with instructions from a senior supervisor to perform actions that contradicted their own previously stated beliefs about best practices, highlighting the powerful influence of authority in the workplace.

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The findings from Stanley Milgram's obedience studies remain highly applicable in modern contexts, raising critical questions about an individual's response to directives from an authority figure, particularly when those orders conflict with personal beliefs or ethical standards.

Contemporary Relevance of the Milgram Experiment

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Obedience in a Professional Setting: The Midwives Study

Recent replications of the Milgram experiment confirm that its findings on obedience remain consistent over time and across cultures. For example, a 2009 study by Burger with a multicultural sample and a 2017 study in Poland by Doliński et al. both found obedience levels that were comparable to those in Milgram's original research.

Modern Replications of the Milgram Experiment

Using your understanding of classic psychological research on obedience to authority, analyze the following scenario. Explain the key psychological factors at play and predict the intern's most likely course of action.

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