The Stanford Prison Experiment: an Abu Grahib remake
Posted: October 2nd, 2007, 8:36 pm
Lately I've been investigating in experiments on mass behavior, and how I switch to automatically pilot mode for some things when there's a group of people around.
I find the Stanford Prison experiment interesting. It was made to reproduce conditions where ordinary people were placed in a situation where a feeling of moral superiority was involved.
The experiment had to stop after less than a week because the "wardens" immorality was getting out of control.
It is easy to lose perspective and just think "those kids are just sick!", and "well if I was in their place, I certainly wouldn't have reacted the same!".
Is it really the case? Is it possible to know how one will react without actually living the thing? In a group it is easy to feel that we're completely in control, even when we aren't and act according to the group's law almost instinctively.
http://www.prisonexp.org/
This link describes the experiment thoroughly. It is described by Philip Zimbardo, who is the psychologist that conducted the experiment.
I find this experiment frightening, but very interesting. It is also an opportunity, an invitation to explore ourselves when in presence of others and when a situation of authority is involved, and to make us realize that we give less control over ourselves than what we actually can give.
I find the Stanford Prison experiment interesting. It was made to reproduce conditions where ordinary people were placed in a situation where a feeling of moral superiority was involved.
The experiment had to stop after less than a week because the "wardens" immorality was getting out of control.
It is easy to lose perspective and just think "those kids are just sick!", and "well if I was in their place, I certainly wouldn't have reacted the same!".
Is it really the case? Is it possible to know how one will react without actually living the thing? In a group it is easy to feel that we're completely in control, even when we aren't and act according to the group's law almost instinctively.
http://www.prisonexp.org/
This link describes the experiment thoroughly. It is described by Philip Zimbardo, who is the psychologist that conducted the experiment.
I find this experiment frightening, but very interesting. It is also an opportunity, an invitation to explore ourselves when in presence of others and when a situation of authority is involved, and to make us realize that we give less control over ourselves than what we actually can give.