Credibility and Incredulity in Milgram’s Obedience Experiments: A Reanalysis of an Unpublished Test

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-106
Author(s):  
Gina Perry ◽  
Augustine Brannigan ◽  
Richard A. Wanner ◽  
Henderikus Stam

This article analyzes variations in subject perceptions of pain in Milgram’s obedience experiments and their behavioral consequences. Based on an unpublished study by Milgram’s assistant, Taketo Murata, we report the relationship between the subjects’ belief that the learner was actually receiving painful electric shocks and their choice of shock level. This archival material indicates that in 18 of 23 variations of the experiment, the mean levels of shock for those who fully believed that they were inflicting pain were lower than for subjects who did not fully believe they were inflicting pain. These data suggest that the perception of pain inflated subject defiance and that subject skepticism inflated their obedience. This analysis revises our perception of the classical interpretation of the experiment and its putative relevance to the explanation of state atrocities, such as the Holocaust. It also raises the issue of dramaturgical credibility in experiments based on deception. The findings are discussed in the context of methodological questions about the reliability of Milgram’s questionnaire data and their broader theoretical relevance.

Author(s):  
Jerry Burger

Most obedience research is concerned with the kind of destructive obedience demonstrated in Milgram’s famous studies. A large number of participants in those investigations followed an experimenter’s instructions to administer what they believe to be excruciating if not dangerous electric shocks to another individual. Ethical concerns about Milgram’s procedures have forced researchers to develop new methods to study obedience, such as virtual reality procedures and partial replications. A small number of studies suggest that personality may affect obedience, but there is little evidence to date that culture or gender plays an important role. Milgram’s interpretation of his findings has been largely rejected, but explanations based on the relationship between the experimenter and the participant and on situational variables that affect social influence processes are promising. The extent to which Milgram’s findings help us understand the obedience that contributed to the Holocaust in Nazi Germany remains a topic of debate.


2018 ◽  
pp. 82-113
Author(s):  
Maurizio Cinquegrani

This chapter is divided into two sections addressing documentaries filmed in Warsaw and Kraków respectively. The main focus is on the relationship between fiction and documentary and on the use of archival material in documentaries about these two cities during the Holocaust. It also continues the investigation of narratives of return introduced in the previous chapters and considers the impact of tourism on Holocaust memory.


1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (03) ◽  
pp. 263-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M H P van den Besselaar ◽  
R M Bertina

SummaryIn a collaborative trial of eleven laboratories which was performed mainly within the framework of the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), a second reference material for thromboplastin, rabbit, plain, was calibrated against its predecessor RBT/79. This second reference material (coded CRM 149R) has a mean International Sensitivity Index (ISI) of 1.343 with a standard error of the mean of 0.035. The standard error of the ISI was determined by combination of the standard errors of the ISI of RBT/79 and the slope of the calibration line in this trial.The BCR reference material for thromboplastin, human, plain (coded BCT/099) was also included in this trial for assessment of the long-term stability of the relationship with RBT/79. The results indicated that this relationship has not changed over a period of 8 years. The interlaboratory variation of the slope of the relationship between CRM 149R and RBT/79 was significantly lower than the variation of the slope of the relationship between BCT/099 and RBT/79. In addition to the manual technique, a semi-automatic coagulometer according to Schnitger & Gross was used to determine prothrombin times with CRM 149R. The mean ISI of CRM 149R was not affected by replacement of the manual technique by this particular coagulometer.Two lyophilized plasmas were included in this trial. The mean slope of relationship between RBT/79 and CRM 149R based on the two lyophilized plasmas was the same as the corresponding slope based on fresh plasmas. Tlowever, the mean slope of relationship between RBT/79 and BCT/099 based on the two lyophilized plasmas was 4.9% higher than the mean slope based on fresh plasmas. Thus, the use of these lyophilized plasmas induced a small but significant bias in the slope of relationship between these thromboplastins of different species.


Author(s):  
Shivananda B Nayak ◽  
Dharindra Sawh ◽  
Brandon Scott ◽  
Vestra Sears ◽  
Kareshma Seebalack ◽  
...  

Purpose: i) To determine the relationship between the cardiac biomarkers ST2 and NT-proBNP with ejection fraction (EF) in heart failure (HF) patients. ii) Assess whether a superiority existed between the aforementioned cardiac markers in diagnosing the HF with reduced EF. iii) Determine the efficacy of both biomarkers in predicting a 30-day cardiovascular event and rehospitalization in patients with HF with reduced EF iv) To assess the influence of age, gender, BMI, anaemia and renal failure on the ST2 and NT-proBNP levels. Design and Methods: A prospective double-blind study was conducted to obtain data from a sample of 64 cardiology patients. A blood sample was collected to test for ST2 and NT-proBNP. An echocardiogram (to obtain EF value), electrocardiogram and questionnaire were also obtained. Results: Of the 64 patients enrolled, 59.4% of the population had an EF less than 40%. At the end of the 30- day period, 7 patients were warded, 37 were not warded, one died and 17 were non respondent. Both biomarkers were efficacious at diagnosing HF with a reduced EF. However, neither of them were efficacious in predicting 30-day rehospitalization. The mean NT-proBNP values being: not rehospitalized (2114.7486) and 30 day rehospitalization (1008.42860) and the mean ST2 values being: not rehospitalized (336.1975), and 30-day rehospitalization. (281.9657). Conclusion: Neither ST2 or NT-proBNP was efficacious in predicting the short- term prognosis in HF with reduced EF. Both however were successful at confirming the diagnosis of HF in HF patients with reduced EF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Kanda ◽  
Takumi Hara ◽  
Ryosuke Fujino ◽  
Keiko Azuma ◽  
Hirotsugu Soga ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between autofluorescence (AF) signal measured with ultra-wide field imaging and visual functions in patients with cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). A retrospective chart review was performed for CORD patients. We performed the visual field test and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) measurement and visualized retinal structures with optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the same day. Using binarised FAF images, we identified a low FAF area ratio (LFAR: low FAF/30°). Relationships between age and logMAR visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), mean deviation (MD) value, and LFAR were investigated. Thirty-seven eyes of 21 CORD patients (8 men and 13 women) were enrolled. The mean patient age was 49.8 years. LogMAR VA and MD were 0.52 ± 0.47 and − 17.91 ± 10.59 dB, respectively. There was a significant relationship between logMAR VA and MD (p = 0.001). LogMAR VA significantly correlated with CRT (p = 0.006) but not with other parameters. Conversely, univariate analysis suggested a significant relationship between MD and LFAR (p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, LFAR was significantly associated with MD (p = 0.002). In conclusion, it is useful to measure the low FAF area in patients with CORD. The AF measurement reflects the visual field deterioration but not VA in CORD.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662098250
Author(s):  
Chad M. Conner ◽  
William H. Perucki ◽  
Andre Gabriel ◽  
David M. O’Sullivan ◽  
Antonio B. Fernandez

Introduction: There is a paucity of data evaluating the impact of heart rate (HR) during Targeted Temperature Management (TTM) and neurologic outcomes. Current resuscitation guidelines do not specify a HR goal during TTM. We sought to determine the relationship between HR and neurologic outcomes in a single-center registry dataset. Methods: We retrospectively studied 432 consecutive patients who completed TTM (33°C) after cardiac arrest from 2008 to 2017. We evaluated the relationship between neurologic outcomes and HR during TTM. Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) at discharge were used to determine neurological recovery. Statistical analysis included chi square, Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U. A logistic regression model was created to evaluate the strength of contribution of selected variables on the outcome of interest. Results: Approximately 94,000 HR data points from 432 patients were retrospectively analyzed; the mean HR was 82.17 bpm over the duration of TTM. Favorable neurological outcomes were seen in 160 (37%) patients. The mean HR in the patients with a favorable outcome was lower than the mean HR of those with an unfavorable outcome (79.98 bpm vs 85.67 bpm p < 0.001). Patients with an average HR of 60-91 bpm were 2.4 times more likely to have a favorable neurological outcome compared to than HR’s < 60 or > 91 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61-3.46, p < 0.001). Specifically, mean HR’s in the 73-82 bpm range had the greatest rate of favorable outcomes (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.95-6.50), p < 0.001. Administration of epinephrine, a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension all were associated with worse neurological outcomes independent of HR. Conclusion: During TTM, mean HRs between 60-91 showed a positive association with favorable outcomes. It is unclear whether a specific HR should be targeted during TTM or if heart rates between 60-91 bpm might be a sign of less neurological damage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoling Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Zhang ◽  
Jiamei Li ◽  
Ya Gao ◽  
Ruohan Li ◽  
...  

AbstractEvidence indicates that glucose variation (GV) plays an important role in mortality of critically ill patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the coefficient of variation of 24-h venous blood glucose (24-hVBGCV) and mortality among patients with acute respiratory failure. The records of 1625 patients in the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC II) database were extracted. The 24-hVBGCV was calculated as the ratio of the standard deviation (SD) to the mean venous blood glucose level, expressed as a percentage. The outcomes included ICU mortality and in-hospital mortality. Participants were divided into three subgroups based on tertiles of 24-hVBGCV. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between 24-hVBGCV and mortality. Sensitivity analyses were also performed in groups of patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Taking the lowest tertile as a reference, after adjustment for all the covariates, the highest tertile was significantly associated with ICU mortality [odds ratio (OR), 1.353; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.018–1.797] and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.319; 95% CI, 1.003–1.735), especially in the population without diabetes. The 24-hVBGCV may be associated with ICU and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure in the ICU, especially in those without diabetes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Anand K. Bery ◽  
Jayson Lee Azzi ◽  
Andre Le ◽  
Naomi S. Spitale ◽  
Judith Leech ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to vestibular dysfunction, but no prior studies have investigated the relationship between Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), a common cause of chronic dizziness, and OSA. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We determined the frequency of OSA in an uncontrolled group of PPPD patients from a tertiary dizziness clinic based on polysomnogram (PSG). We then assessed the sensitivity and specificity of common OSA questionnaires in this population. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with PPPD underwent PSG (mean age 47, 60% female, mean BMI 29.5). A majority, or 56%, of patients were diagnosed with OSA, and in most, the OSA was severe. OSA patients were older (56 years versus 40 years, p = 0.0006) and had higher BMI (32 versus 26, p = 0.0078), but there was no clear gender bias (56% versus 64% female, p = 1.00). The mean sensitivity and specificity of the STOP BANG questionnaire for detecting OSA was 86% and 55%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the Berlin Questionnaire was 79% and 45%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of OSA was much higher in our small PPPD group than in the general population. Screening questionnaires appear to demonstrate good sensitivity to detect PPPD patients at risk of OSA in this small study. Future studies should confirm these findings and determine whether treatment of OSA improves symptoms in PPPD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1115-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
KeXin Guan ◽  
ZhengXue Luo ◽  
JiaXi Peng ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
HaiTing Sun ◽  
...  

We examined the relationship among team networks, leader-member exchange (LMX), and team identification in the workplace. Social network theory, social exchange theory, and social identity theory served as references for our theoretical propositions and analyses. We collected data from a sample of 223 teams of military personnel, serving in the artillery in West China. We found that the team networks had a significant effect on team identification. Further, the variance and the mean for LMX in teams interacted in influencing team identification (β =-.893, p < .01). Our findings indicated that creating productive networks in teams would be useful to enhance team identification, the effect of which may be carried on through to building exchange relationships between leader and follower.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110073
Author(s):  
Richard M Elias ◽  
Karen M Fischer ◽  
Mustaqeem A Siddiqui ◽  
Trevor Coons ◽  
Cindy A Meyerhofer ◽  
...  

Previous studies show that patient complaints can identify gaps in quality of care, but it is difficult to identify trends without categorization. We conducted a review of complaints relating to admissions on hospital internal medicine (HIM) services over a 26-month period. Data were collected on person characteristics and key features of the complaint. The complaints were also categorized into a previously published taxonomy. Seventy-six unsolicited complaints were identified, (3.5 per 1000 hospital admissions). Complaints were more likely on resident services. The mean duration between encounter and complaint was 18 days, and it took an average of 12 days to resolve the complaint. Most patients (59%) had a complaint in the Relationship domain. Thirty-nine percent of complaints mentioned a specific clinician. When a clinician was mentioned, complaints regarding communication and humaneness predominated (68%). The results indicate that the efforts to reduce patient complaints in HIM should focus on the Relationships domain.


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