From: pshane@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Ana M. Shane)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna
Subject: Re: A rare occassion of sanity
Date: 12 Oct 92 07:48:18 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

jodar@aludra.usc.edu (Nicholas Jodar) deascribes one of the
most astonishing experiments in social psychology.

[I have deleted the description of the actual experiment because it
is too long, but please refer to Mr Jodar's posting if you didn't
already]

This experiment in which participants were asked to administer electric
shocks to people simply because they failed to repeat some random words in
order showed thatpeople have a most amazing Authority response, as Mr. Jodar 
quotes:

>Here are the actual results of the test:

>At 80 volts, almost 100% continued.

>At 100 volts, 90% continued.

>At 200 volts, 85% still continued.

>All told, 80% of those taking the test continued administering
>shocks, even through the voltages marked 'DANGER!' and 'XXX'.

>------------------

[some description deleted]

>Yet, as you can see, the results show that most people would, and
>did, continue administering shocks until the end.


I just wanted to add that the participants (the ones who were
asked to give electric shocks to other people when they make a
mistake in repeating random words) were ordinary people from 
"the street" and under no obligation to continue with the
experiment (other than what the Doctor told them). The "Doctor"
had no way to punish THEM for the "disobediance", was nobody
they knew previously or had heard about, etc. In other words
an authority of the least possible stand. Nothing compared to true
autorities like parents, teachers, army officers, political leaders,
etc... No way near, and yet....

Mr. Jodar also illustrates what happens when a true autority
gives an order:

>Those in the audience who raised their hands when asked if they 
>would continue administering shocks, even through the voltages 
>marked 'DANGER!' and 'XXX,' were those who had been through
>similar experiences in the past where they had committed
>attrocities against their will, simply because they were ordered
>to do so.  As an ex-serviceman put it:

>'When I was in a situation like that before, and my Seargent told
>me to do it, I did it.  God help me, I'd probably do it again.'


This is partly what I meant when I claimed and still claim that
the leaders, the authorities on all sides (including Serbs, Croats,
Bosnians and other ex-Yu republics) have a power of decision almost
completely in their hands. They could have decided not to lead the
people straight into war - oh, yes they could have...

[part deleted]

>Is it wrong?  Of course it's wrong.  And Shaitan wants both sides 
>dead.  Those who condemn the masses for the leadership and
>compulsion of the few are playing right into his hands.

>-AQ


>[I beg Allah's forgiveness for my weakness and insufficiency in ]
>['His' service, and I ask for his protection from Shaitan and   ]
>[from my own Desires.  None can protect me except Allah.  If I  ]
>[have made any errors, I beg Allah to bring them to my attention]
>[so that they may be corrected.  If I have made none, then it is]
>[only through the Grace of Allah and all praise is due only to  ]
>['Him.'                                                         ]


-------------



I completely agree with Mr. Jodar. Maybe for different reasons, or
maybe because I call my reasons different than he does, even if they are
the same.

Ana M. Shane