Why Do People Follow Orders to Harm Others?

Did you know 65% of people in a psychology experiment shocked a stranger to ‘death’ just because they were told to? In this 15-minute video, we uncover why ordinary people obey harmful orders, blending history, science, and philosophy. From the Holocaust—where millions died due to blind obedience—to the My Lai Massacre, where U.S. soldiers killed unarmed villagers, we explore real examples. Psychology steps in with Stanley Milgram’s shock study and Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, revealing how fear, conformity, and authority twist human behavior.
But it’s not just the past—obedience shapes today’s workplaces, social media, and conflicts. Ever followed a questionable rule at work or joined an online pile-on? That’s the same psychology at play. Philosophers like Hannah Arendt (“banality of evil”), Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Nietzsche challenge us to rethink compliance. Best of all, we share practical ways to resist harmful orders and stand up for what’s right.
Attribution: All narration is original, crafted from public domain research. For the latest, most accurate info, please conduct your own research.
Ready to dive into human behavior? Watch now and share your thoughts below! #Obedience #Psychology #History #Ethics #SocialPsychology #MilgramExperiment #StanfordPrisonExperiment #Philosophy #HumanBehavior #ResistingOrders #CriticalThinking