Christopher X J. Jensen
Professor, Pratt Institute

Think the Milgram Experiments tell us something definitive about human nature? Think again!

Posted 21 Aug 2013 / 0

WNYC The Leonard Lopate Show The Untold Story of the Notorious Milgram Psychology Experiments

This great feature uncovers two major sources of scientific distortion:

  1. Milgram himself selectively reported his results in order to tell a more sensational story; and
  2. Media depictions, fueled by popular preconceptions, further filtered and distorted the meanings of Milgram’s scientific results.

Both distortions arise from confirmation bias: Milgram’s results seemed valid because they appeared to confirm our worst suspicions about human nature.

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