Methodological critiques

Critics question whether Milgram’s experiments explained the Holocaust and obedience. Miale and Selzer (1975) argued that the artificial setting—ordinary participants shocking a likable learner—failed to replicate Nazi Germany’s context, where propaganda vilified victims (p. 12). They criticized the study for suggesting Nazis were ordinary people following orders, potentially excusing their actions. Baumrind (1985) called the setup “incongruous and bizarre,” arguing it was unrealistic (p. 168). Perry’s (2013) archival research revealed that some participants suspected the shocks were fake, potentially skewing obedience rates.