What ethical violation is primarily associated with Milgram's experiment?

The ethical violation primarily associated with Milgram's experiment is psychological harm. This landmark study examined the willingness of participants to obey authority figures when instructed to perform actions that could harm another person, even to the point of administering what they believed were life-threatening electric shocks. The repercussions of participating in such a procedure raised significant ethical concerns regarding the mental well-being of the subjects involved.

Many participants experienced intense emotional distress during the experiment, believing they were causing severe pain or potentially fatal harm to others. The psychological impact, including stress and guilt, was profound and raised questions about the ethical treatment of research subjects.

While other ethical concerns, such as invasion of privacy, deception of the researcher, and inaccurate observations, are relevant in different research contexts, the most pressing issue in this case was the potential for psychological harm inflicted on participants. This was significant enough to prompt discussions within the ethical guidelines governing human subjects research, emphasizing the need for informed consent and measures to protect participants from harm.