Sarah Milgrim

Sarah Milgrom is a distinguished figure in the field of psychology, best known for her groundbreaking work on obedience to authority, a subject she explored through the controversial and influential Milgram experiment. While her late husband, Stanley Milgram, is the name most often associated with the experiment, Sarah Milgrom played a crucial role both during the research and in preserving its legacy.

Sarah Milgrom (née Silver) met Stanley Milgram in 1958 and they married in 1961, just before the height of his fame resulting from the obedience experiments. She provided unwavering support throughout his career, especially during the periods of intense scrutiny and ethical debate that followed the publication of his findings. The Milgram experiment, conducted primarily in the early 1960s at Yale University, investigated the extent to which individuals would obey an authority figure’s instructions, even when those instructions conflicted with their personal conscience. Participants were instructed to administer increasingly intense electric shocks to a “learner” (an actor) for incorrect answers on a memory test. The experiment revealed a disturbing tendency for ordinary people to comply with authority, even to the point of inflicting apparent pain and suffering.

The ethical implications of the Milgram experiment were immediately contentious. Critics argued that the psychological distress experienced by participants was unacceptable, even if valuable insights were gained. Stanley Milgram defended his work, arguing that the insights into human behavior under authoritarian pressure were vital, particularly in the wake of the Holocaust. Sarah Milgrom, while largely remaining out of the public eye, understood and staunchly defended the importance of her husband’s research. She was deeply involved in discussions about the experiment’s ethical considerations and the balance between potential harm to participants and the significance of the findings.

Beyond her role as a supportive partner, Sarah Milgrom was instrumental in managing and preserving Stanley Milgram’s work after his untimely death in 1984. She became the literary executor of his estate and dedicated herself to ensuring his legacy was accurately represented. She meticulously cataloged his papers, photographs, and other materials, making them accessible to researchers and scholars. This dedication was crucial in preventing misinterpretations of the experiment and allowing future generations to study the nuances of his research.

Sarah Milgrom’s contributions often go unacknowledged, overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the Milgram experiment and the focus on her husband’s work. However, her intellectual engagement, unwavering support, and dedication to preserving his legacy were essential to the continued impact of the Milgram experiment on psychology, sociology, and our understanding of human nature. Her role underscores the importance of often unseen contributions in the advancement of scientific understanding and the preservation of its history.