This happens when social circumstances stifle the individual's impulses and deny them expression. In another famous experiment by Stanley Milgram, subjects were made to believe that they were shocking an actor hidden behind a screen. When the actor, gave an incorrect response to a question, the subject was instructed to administer increasing shock. Incredibly, most of the subjects would administer shock when ordered to do so, even though they believed the actor was suffering terribly. The moral of the story is that most individuals cannot take a position independent of the majority and most people are obedient to authority even if that authority goes against their reasoning and values.
Truth endorsed by authority is likely to be accepted as such by a majority of people.
With these points in mind, it is necessary to be very careful when you stand up for your Constitutional rights. Copyright 2000 William Conklin. All rights reserved. Send comments about this website to the Webmaster . This site is designed and maintained by Davidson Press.