What was the main finding of the Milgram experiment?

The main finding of the Milgram experiment is that obedience can conflict with personal conscience. In this famous study conducted by Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s, participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to another person when they answered questions incorrectly. Despite their discomfort and moral objections when they believed they were inflicting pain, many participants continued to follow the authority figure's instructions up to the maximum voltage.

This finding highlights a powerful aspect of human behavior: the strong tendency to comply with authority, even when doing so conflicts sharply with personal beliefs and ethics. The experiment demonstrated how situational factors, particularly the presence of an authority figure, can lead individuals to act in ways they might not ordinarily choose to, raising critical questions about morality, ethical behavior, and the psychology of obedience in social contexts.