A thought about the stanford prison experiment

[psychopath]

When one of the guys was about to leave the experiment, he was hesitant to do so because he was worried about what people in the "prison" would think about him.

If you're afraid to leave school because what ppl inside it will think about you, read about the stanford prison experiment and see if it resembles your life.

EDIT: Teh Meaning of Life right here

[Gobinu]

Also read about milgram experiment which is more interesting in my opinion and shows how we are dependant on authority.

[xcriteria]

Both are interesting -- definitely learn about them.

In the prison experiment, 24 college students were randomly assigned to be either guard or prisoner in a made-up "prison" in a basement (for almost a week.) They adapted to the roles to a dangerous extent, and the guards showed "genuine sadistic tendencies."

Documentary about Stanford Prison Experiment -- BBC (29min):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...8379129606

Stanford Prison Experiment @ wikipedia

The Milgram Experiment involved volunteers being told by a "researcher" to shock other volunteers (who were actually actors experiencing fake shocks.) Many of volunteers gave shocks up to dangerous levels, thinking the actor-volunteers were screaming in torture, as long as the researcher told them "the experiment must continue" and took responsibility for whatever happened.

Milgram Experiment @ wikipedia

"Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority." -- Stanley Milgram

[S.]

What I found most shocking about the Milgram experiment (and most controversial) is its application to Nazi's. It states that they very well could be good people.

[thewake]

CrayolaColours Wrote:I read/watched them both. It was interesting. I really can't believe that no one would stop shocking them. Especially since, if I remember, People can die at 150 volts (I think) I wouldn't do that, especially if they started banging on the walls and talking about their heart problems.

I also learnd about conformity experiments. When a few test subjects were asked to answer a few questions (very easy ones at that) they had no problem. But then a few actors came in and were asked to say their answers, and they were mostly wrong. Those same people answered wrong, just to sound like everyone else

In a real totalitarian state, that would save your life. The trouble is when people start thinking like everyone else.