BOOM!! (this week in Intro to Psychology)… 1200+ words to a 400 word count. My bad teach. Read that shit ho! Well, I’m going to try to keep this post somewhat close to the assigned word count. I know I have a tendency to continue on with my posts if not somewhat abstract yet still within the assignment. I thought it was interesting reading this assignment for this week, because I had actually watched a documentary on Netflix about this exact study about two days ago. The documentary was called “The Science of Evil” and this experiment was included in it (Gerber, 2008), as well as an interview with Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo about what he experienced conducting it. While reading this article and study from the website provided, I compared the differences between the website which Zimbardo created (Zimbardo, 1999-2013) with the interview and information from the documentary movie. I am someone who generally observes the world and interactions of it with a critical eye, and generally compare differences in all of my experiences. This concept of power vs. obedience is an idea I have been fascinated with for years ever since I acknowledged it. And ever since then I have been very observant of all sorts of aspects of it. There are many different view points of the human psyche and transformations when it comes to the position of power and position of helplessness or powerlessness. I’m not very well read in the culture or community of psychology, but I am certain that this experiment wouldn’t have made it out of the door in this day and age. When I first heard about it when I watched that documentary I thought it was insane. I also thought it was a great idea and concept for an experiment. I was also very surprised that a college would even let it take place on their campus. I had a lot of questions about it all as well. There are a lot of details that are very important to the success of this experiment, as far as environment of the makeshift prison and the conduct of the experiment, that I believe no one will know except those who were there. I also feel very strongly that the same experiment would not have the same results now in these days as they did back then. I believe people in our society are more educated and society is more advanced then it was back in the 70’s. However, if the same purpose of study was conducted in these days I believe that the same result could possibly come from it as the preparation and environment would also be just as advanced. -Was it ethical to do this study? I believe the purpose of the study is invaluable. I believe some things need to happen, whether they are ethical or not. However as ludicrous as that sounds, they must also be carefully constructed and very meticulously designed. This study is not famous only because of it’s controversiality, it’s important as a learning tool for the future generations of psychology. And when I mean “important as a future tool” I don’t mean, this is what you’re not suppose to do as a practicing psychology professor. I believe some things are necessary for the benefit of educational purposes. Although I do think that this experiment could have been conducted a little bit more professional in the sense of care for the students and regulation. -According to follow-up interviews, the experimenters did not take this issue lightly. Was it right to trade the suffering experienced by participants for the knowledge gained by the research? As I mentioned in the above statement, I believe the study and purpose is warranted. However, I also believe it could have been conducted a little more cautiously with the care of the students in mind. I believe experiments similar to this are necessary for the benefit for human psychology progress. These are issues and concepts that need to be known and studied. I think the applicants should have been briefed a little more thoroughly as to what might possibly happen and the environment they would be living in. I also think that the supervision was somewhat subpar. Dr. Zimbardo was obviously too close to the evolution as even he himself states in the documentary. -What does this experiment tell us about some of the conformity, obedience, compliance and some of the other concepts in social psychology? I’m going to make this portion as brief as possible because I could easily continue on about this for hours. I believe a lot of this experiment and in all of its entirety is based of the time era of the 1970’s society. I personally believe that people in general crave or feel they deserve some sort of authority, either by their own existence or some sort of event from their past. In my experience I have watched and observed closely at how authoritative power has an effect on people. I have also watched and observed the effects of conformity through people and their experiences from authority. I believe some of these students acted and reacted the way they did differently for many different reasons. Such as the student referred to as “#416”. The choice that he made to go back into the prison instead of leaving, I believe was somewhat of a struggle for him. And as he was placed back into the prison I could only imagine the thoughts that he had. I believe a lot of this experiment had a lot to do with determination and effort, as well as the craving for power. The guards in this study more than likely felt justified for their behavior because it was sanctioned by the study and by Dr. Zimbardo. They wanted to do their best. However, at the same time that itch for power and authority is obviously relevant as well. The concepts of greed and power are like a hungry emotional hole that never gets filled. Some people placed in a position of helplessness simply give up hope or the mental constitution to continue on. As well, some people want to see how far they can take things, a sort of test of self mental strength or even actions. When each of these students first began this evolution they were all equally, and mentally the same. But as they each took on the roll that they were to be dedicated to they apparently excelled at it (Wade & Tavris, 2011, p. 332). The experiment also shows a sense of camaraderie in a group, which I also believe is evident in student #416. I believe not only did he may have felt somewhat shameful in leaving the prison but he also didn’t want to leave his fellow prisoners behind. For the rest of his life he will obviously always remember this experience, as well I’m sure he probably by now has told the story well over one hundred times. But he would also remember that he left the other prisoners behind. This aspect goes into moral upbringing, it also goes into moral self. Could prisoner #416 look at himself in the mirror always remembering that he left the others behind, even after he was reminded that it was only a study and not a real prison? I believe this study clearly shows that without proper supervision or guidance, power should not be left in the hands of those who are not capable of it’s proper use. References Tony Gerber. (Writer). (2008). Season 22, Episode 9 [Television series episode]. In J. Halperin (Executive producer) Science of Evil. USA: National Geographic Channel. Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2011). Invitation to Psychology (5th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing Zimbardo, G. P. (1999-2013). Standford Prison Experiment, A Simulation Study of the Psychology of Imprisonment Conducted at Stanford University. Reteirved (2013, Novemeber 13) from prisonexp.org
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 03:46:56 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015