Why Ordinary People Do Atrocious Things: Cults and the Milgram Experiments

The Milgram experiments of the 1960s tried to answer the question of how seemingly normal people can do the most awful things. These experiments have been part of Psychology 101 for years and the subject of many a documentary. What are these experiments? And what can they tell us about how people behave in cults? Stephen also discusses sometimes difficult feelings ex members may have about things they may have done while part of a cult or high control group.

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Interesting links

Footage of The Milgram Experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOUEC5YXV8U&t=2s

 

Adam Haslam, The Psychology of Tyranny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxXMKg8-7o0

 

Clip from Derren Brown, The Heist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxq4QtK3j0Y

 

References

Hollway, W., Lucey, H., & Phoenix, A. (2006). Social psychology matters. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

 

Miell, D., Phoenix, A., & Thomas, K. (2002). Mapping psychology 1. The Open University.