What was the main finding of Stanley Milgram's experiment regarding subjects and shocks?

The main finding of Stanley Milgram's experiment is that subjects believed they were helping the person who gave wrong answers. The experiment, conducted in the 1960s, aimed to investigate the extent to which individuals would obey authority figures, even when such obedience conflicted with their personal conscience.

In the setup, participants were told they were part of a study on learning and memory. They administered what they believed were electric shocks to a "learner" (who was actually an actor) for each incorrect response. Throughout the experiment, the authority figure—a researcher in a lab coat—encouraged them to continue, even as the shocks allegedly increased in intensity, and the learner vocally protested and showed signs of distress.

The crucial aspect of the findings is that many participants continued to deliver shocks, believing that they were contributing to science and the learning process despite their discomfort. This reflects the power of situational factors and authority in influencing human behavior, illustrating that the belief in a greater purpose can lead individuals to act against their own ethical beliefs.

In contrast, the other options either misinterpret participants' motivations or do not accurately represent the study’s results. For example, participants generally expressed discomfort and reluctance to administer shocks but felt compelled to obey