Fuck Yeah Psychology

8 Jun 2011

andshespokewords:

Stanford Prison Experiment
Famed psychologist Philip Zimbardo led this experiment to examine that behavior of individuals when placed into roles of either prisoner or guard and the norms these individuals were expected to display.
Prisoners were put into a situation purposely meant to cause disorientation, degradation, and depersonalization. Guards were not given any specific directions or training on how to carry out their roles. Though at first, the students were unsure of how to carry out their roles, eventually they had no problem. The second day of the experiment invited a rebellion by the prisoners, which brought a severe response from the guards. Things only went downhill from there.
Guards implemented a privilege system meant to break solidarity between prisoners and create distrust between them. The guards became paranoid about the prisoners, believing they were out to get them. This caused the privilege system to be controlled in every aspect, even in the prisoners’ bodily functions. Prisoners began to experience emotional disturbances, depression, and learned helplessness. During this time, prisoners were visited by a prison chaplain. They identified themselves as numbers rather than their names, and when asked how they planned to leave the prison, prisoners were confused. They had completely assimilated into their roles.
Dr. Zimbardo ended the experiment after five days, when he realized just how real the prison had become to the subjects. Though the experiment lasted only a short time, the results are very telling. How quickly someone can abuse their control when put into the right circumstances. The scandal at Abu Ghraib that shocked the U.S. in 2004 is prime example of Zimbardo’s experiment findings.

andshespokewords:

Stanford Prison Experiment

Famed psychologist Philip Zimbardo led this experiment to examine that behavior of individuals when placed into roles of either prisoner or guard and the norms these individuals were expected to display.

Prisoners were put into a situation purposely meant to cause disorientation, degradation, and depersonalization. Guards were not given any specific directions or training on how to carry out their roles. Though at first, the students were unsure of how to carry out their roles, eventually they had no problem. The second day of the experiment invited a rebellion by the prisoners, which brought a severe response from the guards. Things only went downhill from there.

Guards implemented a privilege system meant to break solidarity between prisoners and create distrust between them. The guards became paranoid about the prisoners, believing they were out to get them. This caused the privilege system to be controlled in every aspect, even in the prisoners’ bodily functions. Prisoners began to experience emotional disturbances, depression, and learned helplessness. During this time, prisoners were visited by a prison chaplain. They identified themselves as numbers rather than their names, and when asked how they planned to leave the prison, prisoners were confused. They had completely assimilated into their roles.

Dr. Zimbardo ended the experiment after five days, when he realized just how real the prison had become to the subjects. Though the experiment lasted only a short time, the results are very telling. How quickly someone can abuse their control when put into the right circumstances. The scandal at Abu Ghraib that shocked the U.S. in 2004 is prime example of Zimbardo’s experiment findings.

  1. riddledlife reblogged this from fuckyeahpsychology
  2. laurawilliamson reblogged this from andshespokewords
  3. xnittygrittylittlefreakx reblogged this from mildlyunnerving
  4. mildlyunnerving reblogged this from storyofmy-life and added:
    This experiment still scares the shit out of me.
  5. storyofmy-life reblogged this from fuckyeahpsychology
  6. boomumbles reblogged this from getonyourdancingsh0es
  7. getonyourdancingsh0es reblogged this from andshespokewords
  8. mtoer reblogged this from andshespokewords
  9. essenceofdaylight reblogged this from myownsickpleasure
  10. myownsickpleasure reblogged this from fuckyeahpsychology
  11. overlooking-the-ocean reblogged this from loureedsnetherjewfro and added:
    aughhh, the fucking Stanford Prison experiment Want to see something freaky as fuck? Dr. Zimbardo basically looks like...
  12. winoforevr reblogged this from loureedsnetherjewfro
  13. loureedsnetherjewfro reblogged this from left-of-the-dial1
  14. music-amo reblogged this from left-of-the-dial1
  15. left-of-the-dial1 reblogged this from andshespokewords
  16. causticartist reblogged this from mechanicaleternity
  17. mechanicaleternity reblogged this from hitlers-pubes
  18. anguseaton reblogged this from andshespokewords
  19. dark-eh reblogged this from catbuns
  20. anacakes reblogged this from podey and added:
    Fun facts: Zimbardo was actually part of the experiment, he acted like the headmaster of the jail, and was so caught up...
  21. podey reblogged this from sangrienta
  22. catbuns reblogged this from sangrienta and added:
    Aww yeahh. Stuff I learned in Sociology.
  23. sangrienta reblogged this from andshespokewords
  24. zephyrstorm reblogged this from partyinhell
  25. therealbraddiabetes reblogged this from vedo
  26. onotherplanets reblogged this from vedo
  27. vedo reblogged this from parad-x
  28. parad-x reblogged this from partyinhell
  29. ele-emaziiing reblogged this from partyinhell
  30. hitlers-pubes reblogged this from partyinhell
  31. mamiperdimiotroyo reblogged this from partyinhell
  32. partyinhell reblogged this from andshespokewords