Question

Based on Milgram's obedience study, it would be expected that a military soldier would be least likely to follow orders to shoot an enemy combatant in what circumstances?
(A) When the order to shoot comes from a very low-ranking officer.
(B) When the military soldier is told he will not be held responsible for his actions.
(C) When two high-ranking officers disagree about whether or not the soldier should shoot.
(D) When the enemy is very close physically.

Answer 1

Answer:

(C) When two high-ranking officers disagree about whether or not the soldier should shoot

Explanation:

This study demonstrated how an individual  judgement  and personal conscience may be influenced by  instruction given by  an authority.

The study was promoted in 1961 by Eichmaan defence in holocaust trials  based on the his  defence that he was following  orders  when he sanctioned the death of Jews.

This study can be  interpreted  with two theories

1. The first is how the reference group an individual belongs to can influence  the judgement of the individual.An individual during period of  crisis, with no ability to make decision is likable to   allow his personal judgments and decision to be overruled by the hierarchy.Thus transferring his personal judgements to the group; therefore making the group his behavioural model. This is theory of conformism.

2. The second is the Agentic state theory; in executions  of instructions given by  a higher authority, individual usually see themselves as an agent of carrying  out instructions or wishes of another person, and therefore  assume that they are  obident in their actions, and not responsible  for  the consequences of this.

Therefore, when there was not a conclusive order to shoot by the two authorities involved(high-ranking officers), definitely the soldier is less likely to shoot. C is the correct answer.