18 SEp 2024
Academic Scholars Sessions – Year 10 & 11 - The Psychology of Authority
Engaging sessions to stretch our more able students with extension activities.
Emma Low, English Teacher and Cambridge graduate has started her new role as Academic Scholars and Oxbridge Co-ordinator to lead the Scholars Programme. John Green, Headmaster said: “Emma will have a tremendous impact in stretching our more able students with extension activities, I’m looking forward to seeing the topics that they’ll discuss and debate.”
Emma had her first session yesterday with our Year 10 & 11 Scholars. She explained that she will hold mini lectures fortnightly for the first half term. Students will then carry out independent projects where they will research a topic they’re interested in and produce something (an essay, presentation, video etc.) to share with the rest of the group.
Emma then presented her first mini lecture titled, ‘The Psychology of Authority’. She posed the questions; why was Hitler listened to? Are ordinary people capable of evil acts? Why didn’t people stop him? Why did they say yes? Were they all evil?
She then posed the question, who wouldn’t you say yes to?
The group then looked at the Milgram Shock Experiment and discussed the ethical implications. Students discussed the experiment and how the results revealed the, often dangerous, power of the authority figure. Students also discussed how the traumatic nature of the experiment might have impacted the wellbeing of the participants.
She explained that Milgram concluded that under the right circumstances ordinary people will obey unjust orders.
Emma said: "Psychological experiments are about finding a balance of what is ethical and acceptable.” She then explained that during these discussions there are no right and wrong answers, it's about critical thinking, looking at both sides of the coin and alternative ways of looking at an issue.
Next week is the turn of our Year 7, 8 and 9 Academic Scholars. They will have a term of interesting extension lessons.
Thank you, Emma, for organising an engaging and interactive session that has got us all thinking about authority figures.