Stanford Prison Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment is a study that really shapes how people can be controlled and play parts when they are an authority. These random volunteers were able to change their personalities and attitudes. It is crazy how these people can completely change and be a different person than how they were before. Like a man can be a teacher for elementary kids then all of a sudden be an abusive and man, because of the role he was given. Watching the documentary really made me realize how in certain situations, people can change. For example, I have used to have a friend that I used to hang out with and now that he joined a gang, he doesn’t even look at me anymore.
I think it is really interesting how you connect the Stanford experiment to your own life. Furthermore, the Stanford experiment is especially special as it displayed the power of obedience and authority. In addition, to the subjects changing their characteristic, Philip Zimbardo also changed. He became so enthralled within the experiment that he reneged on his values. This case is incredibly interesting as it bolsters the concept that when one adopts a sense of authority and can diffuse their responsibility they will do next to anything, even if it goes against their own ethics.
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