Experimenter 2015

Milgram's 1961 Yale Obedience Experiments Begin

Stanley Milgram launches a series of obedience studies at Yale University in 1961. Volunteers are told to act as 'teachers' and administer electric shocks to a 'learner' in another room; the learners cry out in distress as the shocks increase. Despite the pleas of the stranger, most test subjects comply under the authority figure's instruction.

The Shock Paradigm in Action

In the lab setups, participants follow the experimenter's directives and administer shocks to the learner. The filmed scenes emphasize the conflict between obedience to authority and the moral impulse to stop harming another person. The outcome demonstrates the powerful influence of situational pressure on ordinary people.

Milgram Meets Alexandra (Sasha)

Between sessions, Milgram meets Alexandra, who becomes his wife and the mother of their two children. Their relationship provides a personal counterpoint to the intense experiments.

Public Outcry and Ethical Controversy

The obedience experiments provoke public scrutiny and ethical debate about deception, informed consent, and the treatment of participants. Milgram becomes the subject of criticism as his methods push the boundaries of psychological research. The controversy shapes the rest of his career and the reception of his findings.

Milgram Moves to New York City as Professor

As his work continues, Milgram rises to a professorship in New York City. He expands his research into more benign social experiments, applying his questions about authority and social influence beyond punishment.

The Small-World Experiment

Milgram designs and conducts the small-world experiment, tracing how people are connected through social networks. The study illuminates how quickly strangers can be linked across distances, and popularizes the idea of 'six degrees of separation'.

The Lost-Letter Experiment

In the lost-letter experiment, Milgram investigates how social signals and civic behavior spread when letters are misdirected or left to be mailed. The results reveal patterns of cooperation and apathy in communities.

The Street-Corner (Gawking) Experiment

Milgram observes crowds and individual responses on city streets as people react to strangers who gawk or seem out of place. The footage captures how passersby interpret and engage social stimuli in everyday life.

The Familiar Stranger Experiment

Another line of inquiry examines how people accumulate 'familiar strangers' through repeated near-encounters, revealing patterns of urban social life. Milgram documents how routine contact creates social bonds and a sense of routine.

Milgram's Students Carry Out Experiments

Milgram mentors students who carry out additional experiments under his guidance, extending his approach to everyday social interactions. The work continues to explore obedience, proximity, and social dynamics in various contexts.

Milgram's Death

Milgram's life ends when he dies of a heart attack at the age of 51. The film follows his influential career through Yale and New York, highlighting the enduring impact of his research on social psychology.

Final Present-Day Street-Corner Reenactment

In the film's closing, the street-corner experiment is repeated in the present day, featuring a cameo by Sasha Milgram. The scene emphasizes the ongoing relevance of Milgram's questions about social behavior.