The Stanford Prison Experiment Essays - Psychology, Conformity

The Stanford Prison Experiment Essays - Psychology, Conformity The Stanford Prison Experiment "Evil is knowing better, but willingly doing worse." (Philip Zimbardo) Amongst various famous psychological experiments exist a few infamous and terrifying psychological experiments. Psychologist Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971 involved 24 innocent, middle-class men and countless acts of dehumanization and brutality. This experiment took place in a mock prison in a basement of Stanford University in Stanford, California. The Stanford Prison Experiment was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner. This was a touching experiment because it showed how an environment manipulates good-natured people and gets them to commit unforgiving acts. Zimbardo wanted to show what happened when individuality and dignity was stripped away from humans. He wanted to know how individuals would feel if their lives were completely controlled. Zimbardo wanted to investigate the impact of situational variables on human behavior. Zimbardo's aim was to bring forth the reactions of both, the participants and the guards. The experiment included two main variables: assigned roles and changes in behavior. Assigned roles were known to be independent variables. Prisoners were picked up from their homes. Upon reaching the mock prison, the jailbirds were thoroughly searched and fingerprinted. After the jailbirds were dressed in smocks with no underclothes, they were placed in holding cells. In addition, they were given identification numbers and were forbidden to use names. In contrast, the guards were given no special training. Guards had the free right to do whatever necessary to maintain law and order and command respect. The so-called protectors were dressed in identical uniforms, carried whistles and batons, and they wore mirrored sunglasses to make themselves appear less human. The dependent variables were the changes in behavior. Prisoners rebelled by removing their stocking caps, scratching off their numbers, and barricading themselves in cells. After at least 36 hours of the experiment, the pri soners were emotionally disturbed and were crying uncontrollably with rage. Thus, the initially two-week planned experiment was called off after just six days. On the other hand, guards forced prisoners to perform exercises. The guards sprayed prisoners with fire extinguishers, and stripped their prisoners naked. The security officers who were to maintain peace and protect their prisoners promoted aggression between inmates and forced prisoners to defecate in buckets instead of toilets. In addition, they forced prisoners to clean toilets with their bare hands. The researchers created a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University and randomly assigned people as prisoners or guards to note their reactions. Advertisements were placed in local newspapers, offering "$15 a day to participate" (Zimbardo 2) in the experiment. Only "24 male subjects, physically and mentally healthy" (Zimbardo 2), were chosen as the participants of the experiment. Prior to being selected, the participants were randomly divided into two groups; there were 12 prisoners and 12 guards. The Palo Alto Police of Palo Alto, California, "Agreed to arrest' the prisoners" (Zimbardo 2). The prisoners were treated like real-life suspects. They had their rights read and fingerprints taken. Zimbardo acted as the warden for the duration of the experiment. He informed the guards that the guards were expected to abide only one rule: no physical punishment was allowed. Other than that one rule, guards were to do what pleased them best. The guards addressed prisoners by the c aptives' identification numbers. Prisoners had a small chain around one ankle to remind them that they were inmates. Conditions were tough throughout the experiment. Prisoners were supplied with basic sleeping mattresses and simple food. Throughout the experiment, Zimbardo acted as a spectator as well as an observer and note taker. Data collected was both quantitative and qualitative. Video recording equipment was placed behind an observation screen. Within days, the guards became sadistic and the prisoners were recipients of countless beatings and emotional breakdown. A few participants were released early because of extreme stress. Zimbardo continued to overlook the abusive behavior of the prison guards. That is, until "A new assistant professor at the University of California at Berkeley" (Zimbardo 3), Christina Maslach, voiced objections to the conditions of the prison and the continuation of the experiment. The simulation became so real that the experiment had to be shut down a fter only six days rather than the