Fuchs !!4KU9PSdLG started this discussion 15 years ago#3,893
Recently I came across a remake of an older film I really enjoyed, and revisited this topic because I find it interesting. A brief summary of what I'm talking about:
In the 1970s Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment by selecting 24 Stanford university students to be randomly assigned roles of guards or prisoners after a psychological profile. It was supposed to last two weeks but the experiment was aborted after 6 days due to how psychologically and physically damaging the situation became, with even Dr. Zimbardo himself becoming non-objective and too involved where he was the 'superintendent'. Riots broke out, prisoners became very different people, and the guards became sadistic towards their duties. The prisoners were forced to lose their identity by being only referred to by their number, and subjected to abuse if they did not properly respond during prisoner counts.
Fuchs !!4KU9PSdLG (OP) double-posted this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later[^][v]#70,000
One of the more interesting comments made by one of the mock guards was this:
"You put a uniform on and given a job, say your job is to keep these people in line, then you're certainly not the same person as if you are in street clothes and a different role... you really become that person once you put on that khaki uniform, you put on the glasses, you take the nightstick and you act the part... that's your costume, and you have to act accordingly."
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 20 minutes later, 26 minutes after the original post[^][v]#70,009
We studied that in psychology, it was very interesting. Everybody involved took on an entirely different persona.
(Edited 7 minutes later.)
Homestar !RUNNERV7vk joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 33 seconds later, 26 minutes after the original post[^][v]#70,010
It is interesting to note that in this study the guards took a much more ambivalent and passive role towards their positions of authority. They make a good point, however, that the way these individuals react could be correlated to the fact that they're being filmed for television.
Gil joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 6 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[^][v]#70,106
I always found this experiment interesting, and it also has showcased what is wrong with the current prison system in a America, where it has been geared towards punishment rather than rehabilitation and redemption. While it is true that a system geared towards helping prisoners better themselves is not 100% effective, the current prison system abandons those who have a chance of being redeemed to a corrupt system where they only can become worse.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 38 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^][v]#70,120
Mister Misanthrope !NPN/W33CeE joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 9 hours after the original post[^][v]#70,177
I didn't need a detailed scientific explanation to figure out that human nature sucks and has a strong dark side any more than I needed a detailed scientific explanation to figure out that eating meat is good for you.
Gil replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 10 hours after the original post[^][v]#70,221
@previous (Mister Misanthrope !NPN/W33CeE)
hence your name.