Stanford Prison experiment was conducted in 1973 by Zimbardo who was interested to find out the reason behind brutality reported by guards of American prisons. He wanted to know whether causes were dispositional or situational. This study was performed in the basement of the Stanford University Psychology building which was converted into a mock prison. Twenty four (24) Participants were chosen through advertising the ad and subsequent diagnostic interviews and personality tests. These participants were assigned the roles of guards and prisoners in a replicated prison environment. The guards were given duty in sets of three via assigning each set an eight (8) hour shift whereas set of three (3) prisoners were housed in each room with an extra …show more content…
It has also been used in organizations that provide shelter to abused women. The study has been applied to literate the Navy SEAR program’s typical interrogators to prevent them from danger resulting from misuse of their power and authority. The implications by the Abu Ghraib Prison Guards and the Stanford Prison Experiment guards with the conclusions on situational forces that dominated dispositional aspects of those guards because of their abusive actions have converted this study in a national debate (Brady & Logsdon; 1988). It has been well received as a relevant contribution to understanding the various situational reasons for this kind of aberrant/unpredictable behavior. The study demonstrates that how situational factor contributes to good people to change theirs into abusive behavior converting their healthy minds emotionally disturbed (Brady & Logsdon; 1988). Therefore, Stanford Prison Study messages have been underlined in my social sciences books. It has been delivered in the classroom around the Globe and covered by the media as …show more content…
Researchers are always a handful for social development and possible amendments in the social norms. They are also helpful for finding a unique methodology or causes behind a particular event or behavior. As Stanford Prison Experiment instead of few flaws took a great part in understanding and differentiating between situational and dispositional scenarios. It outlined the major aspects of particular behavior drawn by a specific group of the society, therefore, ignoring the minimum ratio of flaws and considering the high ratio of benefits; research of this nature should be continued but having possible precautionary measures before conducting it. When there is the more beneficial outcome of an action than harm and that action is useful for the people, it should be carried out. Similarly, ethical rules while doing such research must not be kept aside as they can trigger serious issues while conducting the study. After all human life and emotions are far valuable than other any elements, therefore, they should not be put at risk for any research work. As after Stanford Prison study, it was decided that ethical guidelines for any research be provided by American Psychological Association and reviewed by an institutional board (US) and ethics committee
Twenty-four average men were entered into a fake prison setting, twelve of which who had been given the role of prisoner and twelve with the role of guard. Throughout the course of the experiment we see the environment effect negatively on the actions of the group of guards, clearly demonstrating that situational forces can force a person to cross the line between good and evil. We see this heavily embodied in the guard Dave Eshelman AKA ‘John Wayne’ – nicknamed by the prisoners in the study – the most brutal guard of them all, the one who demonstrated all the findings on the influence of power and authority and human behaviour. “I was kind of running my own experiment in there, by saying, “How far can I push these things and how much abuse will these people take before they say, ‘knock it off?'” But the other guards didn’t stop me.
On August 14, 1971, the Stanford Prison Experiment had begun. The volunteers who had replied to the ad in the newspaper just weeks before were arrested for the claims of Armed Robbery and Burglary. The volunteers were unaware of the process of the experiment, let alone what they were getting themselves into. They were in shock about what was happening to them. Once taken into the facility, the experimenters had set up as their own private jail system; the twenty-four volunteered individuals were split up into two different groups (Stanford Prison Experiment).
In this study Zimbardo chose 21 participants from a pool of 75, all male college students, screened prior for mental illness, and paid $15 per day. He then gave roles. One being a prisoner and the other being a prison guard, there were 3 guards per 8 hour shift, and 9 total prisoners. Shortly after the prisoners were arrested from their homes they were taken to the local police station, booked, processed, given proper prison attire and issued numbers for identification. Before the study, Zimbardo concocted a prison setting in the basement of a Stanford building. It was as authentic as possible to the barred doors and plain white walls. The guards were also given proper guard attire minus guns. Shortly after starting the experiment the guards and prisoners starting naturally assuming their roles, Zimbardo had intended on the experiment lasting a fortnight. Within 36 hours one prisoner had to be released due to erratic behavior. This may have stemmed from the sadistic nature the guards had adopted rather quickly, dehumanizing the prisoners through verbal, physical, and mental abuse. The prisoners also assumed their own roles rather efficiently as well. They started to rat on the other prisoners, told stories to each other about the guards, and placated the orders from the guards. After deindividuaiton occurred from the prisoners it was not long the experiment completely broke down ethically. Zimbardo, who watched through cameras in an observation type room (warden), had to put an end to the experiment long before then he intended
The prisoners were given prison uniforms and number. The prisoners were subjected to numbers over their names and required to remember their names as ordered by the guards. When they reached the prison, they were blindfolded, stripped naked and forced to wear a dress as humiliation and entertainment
The Stanford Prison Experiment commenced in 1973 in pursuit of Zimbardo needed to study how if a person are given a certain role, will they change their whole personality in order to fit into that specific role that they were given to. Zambrano significantly believed that personality change was due to either dispositional, things that affect personal life and make them act differently. Or situational, when surrounded by prisoners, they can have the authority to do whatever they want without having to worry about the consequences. Furthermore, it created a group of twenty-four male participants, provided them their own social role. Twelve of them being a prisoners and the other twelve prison guards, all of which were in an examination to see if they will be able to handle the stress that can be caused based upon the experiment, as well as being analysis if their personality change due to the environment or their personal problems.
These occurrences can be analyzed using social psychology because the environment, the situation, and those holding the authority influenced the behavior of others. Due to these influences, prisoners and guards acted on the roles they were given, in the way that society sees them. The description, in itself, is the definition of social psychology.
15 men participated in The BBC Prison Study. At the beginning of the experiment there was a possibility for the prisoners to be promoted to guards, therefore, prisoners did not identify with their group. After 3 days, prisoners started to work together, they noticed that guards could not agree on decisions and prisoners overthrown guards. Guard groups had a deviant – the over-disciplined guard. Then everyone came up with an idea of equality, but that did not work either and the experiment was stopped. This experiment’s conclusions differ from Stanford’s Experiment and therefore it opened up a discussion once
These occurrences can be analyzed using social psychology because the environment, the situation, and those holding the authority influenced the behavior of others. Due to these influences, prisoners and guards acted on the roles they were given, in the way that society sees them. The description, in itself, is the definition of social psychology.
When put into the position of complete authority over others people will show their true colors. I think that most people would like to think that they would be fair, ethical superiors. I know I would, but learning about the Stanford Prison Experiment has made me question what would really happen if I was there. Would I be the submissive prisoner, the sadistic guard, or would I stay true to myself? As Phillip Zimbardo gave the guards their whistles and billy clubs they drastically changed without even realizing it. In order to further understand the Stanford Prison experiment I learned how the experiment was conducted, thought about the ethical quality of this experiment, and why I think it panned out how it did.
When put into an authoritative position over others, is it possible to claim that with this new power individual(s) would be fair and ethical or could it be said that ones true colors would show? A group of researchers, headed by Stanford University psychologist Philip G. Zimbardo, designed and executed an unusual experiment that used a mock prison setting, with college students role-playing either as prisoners or guards to test the power of the social situation to determine psychological effects and behavior (1971). The experiment simulated a real life scenario of William Golding’s novel, “Lord of the Flies” showing a decay and failure of traditional rules and morals; distracting exactly how people should behave toward one another. This research, known more commonly now as the Stanford prison experiment, has become a classic demonstration of situational power to influence individualistic perspectives, ethics, and behavior. Later it is discovered that the results presented from the research became so extreme, instantaneous and unanticipated were the transformations of character in many of the subjects that this study, planned originally to last two-weeks, had to be discontinued by the sixth day. The results of this experiment were far more cataclysmic and startling than anyone involved could have imagined. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the discoveries from Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment and of Burrhus Frederic “B.F.” Skinner’s study regarding the importance of environment.
Nine prison guards, and nine prisoners. The study is done by Philip Zimbardo
During the study, the participants who were known as “the prisoners” endured psychological abuse from the “guards”. They were often harassed, tormented, insulted, and ultimately dehumanized. Per Zimbardo, during his study participants suffered a substantial amount of anguish, which
The Stanford Prison Experiment was a point of interest mental investigation of the human reaction to imprisonment, specifically, to this present reality conditions of jail life. It was directed in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University. Subjects were arbitrarily alloted to assume the part of "detainee" or "monitor". Those allocated to assume the part of watch were given sticks and shades; those relegated to assume the detainee part were captured by the Palo Alto police division, deloused, compelled to wear chains and jail pieces of clothing, and transported to the storm cellar of the Stanford brain science office, which had been changed over into a temporary correctional facility.
The Stanford Prison Experiment Philip Zimbardo was a psychology professor at Stanford University who was interested in finding out what happens if we “put the good people in an evil place”. He questioned whether the situation outside one's control (the institution) or inside of an individual (attitude, belief, values) allows one to rise above a negative environment. To test this he set up a study he called the “Stanford Prison Experiment” which is now known as one of the most notorious experiments. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate “how readily people would conform to the role of a prisoner and guard in a role playing experience that stimulated prison life”.
An important part of psychological research is the ethical factor. There is always a moral responsibility to protect research participants from harm when conducting experiments, but there weren’t always rules to protect them. Many famous experiments are known for changing the ethical rules and considerations of psychological research, at the sociocultural level of analysis. Some of the most famous and controversial studies are the Zimbardo Stanford Prisoner experiment and the Milgram shock experiment.