The Stanford Prison Experiment Essay

It is often said that environment negatively affect an individual's mind. For example, if an individual is having an intense day and he has a boxing match the same day, then he may have his punches countered. Therefore, he may lose his match. This shows that intense situations can control an individual's mindset. Situations and environments are able to control and manipulate an individual.
Negative situations can become so manipulative that they affect the individual. According to the “Stanford Prison Experiment” article, “The research suggests that situational variables have a stronger sway than personality factors in determining obedience” (“More Information Frequently Asked Questions”). The prisoners were kept in the prison all day. The situation that the guards were but in changed their behavior from students to brutal human beings.The prisoners were able to leave the experiment whenever they pleased. They had been so traumatized from the environment, that they believed they were prisoners and there was no escaping their fate. This proves that situations and environment are able to change an individual. After Jack’s group raided Ralph’s group, “He made stabbing motions with his spear. From his left hand dangled Piggy’s …show more content…
In the article “The Stanford Prison Experiment,” “Half the prisoners were released early due to severe emotional or cognitive reactions” (“More Information Frequently Asked Questions”). This experiment verifies that the environment that the prisoners were in made them change their behavior. This demonstrates that the environment was intense and had a negative effect on the prisoners. Furthermore in the novel Lord of the Flies, “The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee” (Golding 181). This example points out that Roger was becoming savage when he killed Piggy. Additionally, this proves that the situation was able to control Simon and have a negative effect on