An Unexpected Change
The premise of the Stanford Prison was to determine the relationships between guards and prisoners. These conditions were situational and the researchers wanted to study the variables on human behaviors in a prison environment. As many have concluded, the experiment did not go as anticipated, and many questions have arisen as to what went wrong and if the experiment itself was ethical. This purpose of this paper is to understand the true intent of the experiment, examine the various roles the participants and how the situation changed them in the environment, identify which role I would play and why and lastly, the ethical ramification of the study itself.
Intent
The purpose of the experiment was to understand simulation psychology in prison. Areas observation included roles, social interaction, and behavioral change by humiliating, and emasculating the prisoners. The methods included stripping all prisoners of their personal clothes and these were replaced with an assigned uniform, a gown, a cap for their heads and a chain around their ankle. Also, each prisoner was given individual numbers to be identified as instead of personal names.
The Situation The experiment was designed to last for fourteen days. There were 24 volunteers selected and randomly chosen to be either guards or prisoners. The guards …show more content…
In the case of the Stanford Experiment, submission won. When placed in an environment without realizing that self-control may be compromised, how is it possible to conclude that a person is willing to go the distance? This study proved that behavioral change can be manifested at will or directed by circumstance. Our willingness to overcome the unexpected must be deeply rooted in knowing that prison, whether physically or mentally, is a state of mind. To understand the nature of ourselves, examine the actions of others, and you may discover a part of yourself that may be
The premise of the Stanford Prison was to determine the relationships between guards and prisoners. These conditions were situational and the researchers wanted to study the variables on human behaviors in a prison environment. As many have concluded, the experiment did not go as anticipated, and many questions have arisen as to what went wrong and if the experiment itself was ethical. This purpose of this paper is to understand the true intent of the experiment, examine the various roles the participants and how the situation changed them in the environment, identify which role I would play and why and lastly, the ethical ramification of the study itself.
Intent
The purpose of the experiment was to understand simulation psychology in prison. Areas observation included roles, social interaction, and behavioral change by humiliating, and emasculating the prisoners. The methods included stripping all prisoners of their personal clothes and these were replaced with an assigned uniform, a gown, a cap for their heads and a chain around their ankle. Also, each prisoner was given individual numbers to be identified as instead of personal names.
The Situation The experiment was designed to last for fourteen days. There were 24 volunteers selected and randomly chosen to be either guards or prisoners. The guards …show more content…
In the case of the Stanford Experiment, submission won. When placed in an environment without realizing that self-control may be compromised, how is it possible to conclude that a person is willing to go the distance? This study proved that behavioral change can be manifested at will or directed by circumstance. Our willingness to overcome the unexpected must be deeply rooted in knowing that prison, whether physically or mentally, is a state of mind. To understand the nature of ourselves, examine the actions of others, and you may discover a part of yourself that may be