Behind the Shock Machine

In Behind the Shock Machine, psychologist Gina Perry delves into Stanley Milgram's infamous 1961 experiments at Yale, where volunteers administered escalating electric shocks to a man they believed was in serious distress, driven by an authority figure's commands. This groundbreaking work not only revisits the controversial findings—where 65 percent of participants complied—but also interviews the original subjects, many of whom are still affected by their actions. By exploring Milgram's personal archives and presenting dramatic transcripts, Perry challenges the established narrative and offers a nuanced view of the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary people, creating an engaging account of ambition, ethics, and human behavior.