Lost Letter Experiment
Milgram developed a technique for measuring how helpful people are to strangers who are not present, and their attitudes toward various groups, called the "lost letter" experiment. Several sealed and stamped letters are planted in public places, addressed to various entities, such as individuals, favorable organizations like medical research institutes, and stigmatized organizations such as "Friends of the Nazi Party". Milgram found most of the letters addressed to individuals and favorable organizations were mailed, while most of those addressed to stigmatized organizations were not.
Read more about this topic: Stanley Milgram
Famous quotes containing the words lost, letter and/or experiment:
“... the Department of Justice is committed to asking one central question of everything we do: What is the right thing to do? Now that can produce debate, and I want it to be spirited debate. I want the lawyers of America to be able to call me and tell me: Janet, have you lost your mind?”
—Janet Wood Reno (b. 1938)
“The desire of most parents is first and foremost to do what is best for their children. Every interview with a mother or father confirms this, every letter written by a parent breathes this deep-seated wish, I hope I am doing the right thing for my child. This is real and honest, and at the very base of parenthood.”
—Irma Simonton Black (20th century)
“I have been trying all my life to like Scotchmen, and am obliged to desist from the experiment in despair.”
—Charles Lamb (17751834)