Milgram, Stanley "Issues in the Study of Obedience: A Reply to Baumrind", American Psychologist, 1964, 19:848-852

---

Milgram replies to Baumrind's accusations as follows:

The study's objectives were not to cause stress -- the extreme anxiety was unexpected, as well as the fact that many subjects continued shocking the victim to the highest setting.

After each experiment each subject met their victim, and received an explanation that supported their decision in the test. All subjects received a detailed report of the results. They all received a follow-up questionnaire on the study too. The replies were very positive about the experiment, and most people were glad they participated in it. 74% said they learned something of personal importance because of the study. After the final report, subjects responded enthusiastically, and many wanted to be in the study again.

Also one year after the study I had a impartial medical examiner evaluate 40 of the subjects. He didn't find any subjects with signs of being harmed by the study.

Baumrind felt that obedience couldn't be tested in the laboratory. Milgram disagreed -- the laboratory is a useful starting point for understanding.