Have you ever read about the Stanford Prison Experiment? I learned about it years ago when I studied Psychology at the University of Utah and then it was mentioned again yesterday at school.
Here is the quick overview as told by the lead Psychologist Philip Zimbardo.
What happens when you put good people in an evil place? Does humanity win over evil, or does evil triumph? These are some of the questions we posed in this dramatic simulation of prison life conducted in the summer of 1971 at Stanford University.
How we went about testing these questions and what we found may astound you. Our planned two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life had to be ended prematurely after only six days because of what the situation was doing to the college students who participated. In only a few days, our guards became sadistic and our prisoners became depressed and showed signs of extreme stress. Please join me on a slide tour describing this experiment and uncovering what it tells us about the nature of human nature.
To give a tiny bit more detail … this Zimbardo guy took 24 Stanford students (who had all been tested to be perfectly normal and mentally healthy) and made 12 of them guards and 12 of them prisoners. No instructions were given to any of them except “You are a guard” or “You are a prisoner.” Within days the guards were making the prisoners do perverse things and human rights were being violated. Zimbardo (who only cared about the experiment) only pulled the plug because his WIFE complained that they were becoming monsters (Zimbardo included.)
Ok so that’s the background. It’s a fascinating story in that 12 seemingly normal people became evil when presented with the opportunity. And what’s more interesting is the way the story is related and pitched over and over and over and over …
The line “uncovering what it tells us about the nature of human nature” is generally how it is discussed and presented. We are supposed to learn that the nature of human nature is that normal healthy people become evil when put in evil situations. Zimbardo calls this the “Lucifer Effect.”
Even my teacher at school only discussed this study to demonstrate that normal people DO turn evil with relatively no pushing. I acknowledge this with regret but would like to make a point that everyone seems to be missing.
THERE IS A CHOICE!
The entire class accepted what the teacher was saying. Accepted it as fact that no one would behave differently in that situation. They all accepted that they too would be abusive. I, on the other hand, am not so willing to accept this and I think it is extremely wrong to take away personal accountability. If we are taught that in stressful situations it’s human nature to become evil … well … that’s like a free pass to give in to the dark side.
Where is the personal accountability? Where is the ownership? Why are excuses being made for human rights violations?
I am not so self-righteous to assert that I personally would have been any different. Having never been in a position like that – I cannot make that claim. I don’t think anyone REALLY knows what they would do unless actually confronted with the choice – but again – there is that key word again – CHOICE.
I hope that I would stand up for what I believe. I hope that I never dehumanize others. And I hope that I remember it’s my choice.
I brought this up in class. I suggested that removing personal responsibility for one’s actions by blaming the men’s transformations entirely on situational factors does not allow for freedom of will. We all have the freedom to choose how we behave – even when under extreme situations. And we all CAN choose to overcome temptation and treat others with the respect they deserve as human beings.
Though a bit surprised by my argument – my teacher could not refute it. He paused for a moment and then agreed. After which we discussed in class some of the people in history who HAVE chosen the right course even when it would have been much easier not to …
There is a choice between good and evil. Sometimes the line may become a little fuzzy – and the area may be a little gray – but there is a choice.
I hope we all remember that.
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Good for you for commenting on personal responsibility! There definitely is a choice that has to be made, and while we may not know what we would choose, because you really can’t know what it is like to be in prison until you are there, we can hope that we would choose not to treat other poeple with disdain or dehumanize them. Possibly we could bring some good into their lives. You go girl! Love, Mom
Have you actually read the Lucifer Effect?
(I haven’t, though I did see Zimbardo talk about it)
Apparently a lot of psychologists are up in arms about how black and white he is in it for that very reason… they feel he is defending people who made some pretty horrible choices (like one of the fellows in the Abu Gharib prison scandal)
I heard Zimbardo talk about it in great detail over newsradio – but haven’t read it.
It’s one I would like to look over eventually – but my list of books to read for school and my dissertation is currently sky high so it may be awhile.
Interesting post, indeed. However my POV conflicts your own. Still, a valid point and an insightful experiment.
you took the words right out of my mouth :) first of all, his sample size was 12…not even close to enough to generalize to the population, assuming that everyone would behave the same way…it’s a little bit of a ridiculous jump. take away choice and you take away our humanity – one can not exist without the other.