make a responses to the follwing paragragh with a total of 100 to 150 words in o
ID: 3444476 • Letter: M
Question
make a responses to the follwing paragragh with a total of 100 to 150 words in order to receive full credit.
Zimbardo's conclusion was a confirmation of his hypothesis that once inside a prison, even emotionally healthy men are likely to engage in violence. The results were more intense than even Zimbardo had predicted. Zimbardo was able to conclude that prison violence is not the result of guards and prisoner's personalities, but instead a result of the social character of the jail setting.
I certainly agree with Zimbardo's belief that this study leaves room to question our societies' prisons. However, digging a little deeper into Zimbardo's study, my understanding is that the participants were fully aware that they were participating in a "psychological study" (as the advertisement in the newspaper from 1971 stated). My concern with this knowledge that the participants possessed is that because humans respond to their surroundings, the presence of a researcher could affect the behavior being studied. If it was already presumed by Zimbardo (and presumably others as well) that there is a societal issue within our prisons that causes even emotionally healthy people to engage in violence, then I think it is fair to at least consider the possibility that the participants were simply "getting into the characters" of the stereotypes culture had already placed upon both prison guards and prisoners.
Regardless, I think this study is important. First, in understanding that our judicial system is flawed, and calls for consideration and observation for change. And second, for calling on us to posses more of a sociological perspective as we observe the overwhelming power and danger of stereotyping in our society.
Explanation / Answer
According to Zimbardo and his colleagues, the Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrates the powerful role that the situation can play in human behavior.Because the guards were placed in a position of power, they began to behave in ways they would not usually act in their everyday lives or other situations. The prisoners, placed in a situation where they had no real control, became passive and depressed.
Despite its criticisms,it remains an important study in our understanding of how the situation can influence human behavior. Even if the participants knew that they were being studied and were just playing along but this stereotypical behaviour being showcased in the experiment could be attributed to already present dispositions in those young male participants who agreed to be a part of the study in the first place.
The acts of violence exhibited by them could possibly be innately present which they played out in the experiment. The concept of power,is what is underlying in Zimbardo's study.These participants actively sought out participation in a study having to do with prison.
It was found that people who responded the ad to be part of a study on prison life scored higher on tests of aggressiveness, authoritarianism, machiavellianism, narcissism, and social dominance, and lower on measures of empathy and altruism.
Zimbardo's experiment shines a light on the bad side of power that the participants showed but since everyone is different therefore people do make good use of power. But given the circumstances in the experiment involving young males,the misuse of power of happened even if they knew about the study but the innate dispositions made them use power in a cruel way.
So definetely this study helps us to understand the dangers of power and what people can do with it leading to violence and criminal behaviours. Research shows that activating the concept of power in men with an already-existing disposition toward sexual harassment or aggression increases objectification of women.
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