⁣This experiment was set up to try to understand what made ordinary people carry out atrocities against other people. What it conclusively found was ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being. Obedience to authority is ingrained in us all from the way we are brought up.

People tend to obey orders from other people if they recognize their authority as morally right and/or legally based. This response to legitimate authority is learned in a variety of situations, for example in the family, school, and workplace.


The Governments know what they are doing and why.