Imitation Prison at Stanford - Essay Example

Latane, B and Darley J experiments, experiment one, two and three in comparison to Milgram`s experiment on obedience to authority and the Standard prison experiment one outstanding observation was Latane B, Darley J experiments which was based purely on observation as opposed to Milgram’s experiment and Stanford were subjects were confined to certain environment and circumstances. However, Milgram’s experiment on obedience to authority and Stanford prison experiment had similar characteristics. Both experiments were done indoors the Stanford`s prison which was in the basement of Stanford`s Jordan hall had been converted into a mock jail while experiments were done inside a prestigious place. Subjects were given specific instructions in Milgram`s experiment. Teachers and were asked to administer severe electric shock while in Stanford experiment, Researchers held orientation session for guards before experiment. They provided equipments and weapons in Milgram’s experiment. A single 45 volt shock sample were given to each teacher ,while in Stanford prison experiment researchers provided weapons, wooden baton and clothing simulated that of prison guard, khaki shirts and pants from local military surplus stores. They were also given mirrored sun glasses to prevent eye contact. Prisoners wore ill fitting smocks and stocking caps. Guards called prisoners by assigned numbers sewn on their uniforms instead of by name. A chain around their ankles reminded them of their role as prisoners. Both experiments, that is, Milgram’s and Stanford`s prison experiment, exhibited similar shocking revelations. Milgram’s was shocked to find those who question authority were in minority and teachers were willing to progress to maximum voltage level. In Stanford`s prison experiment, most of guards were upset when the experiment was concluded early. This shows there was willingness to proceed up to the last minute. These also prove people under close strict supervision of authority can perform obligation assigned to them whether right or wrong. Similar behavior traits of Stanford experiments were also traced in Albu Ghraib prison. Also in April 2007, it was reported high school students in Waxahachie, Texas who were participating in role playing exercise fall in the same abusive patterns of behavior exhibited in Stanford Prison. After the experiment in Stanford prison and Milgram’s experiment they exhibited similar cognitive dissonance traits. In Stanford there was high level of stress progressively which led them from rebellion to inhibitions whereby, many showed severe emotional disturbances. In Milgram’s experiments subjects demonstrated range of negative emotions, like laughing nervously and acting in strange diverse ways. This actions were so devastating that at one point that the enter experiment program had to be ended before scheduled time because subjects were out of control. The Experiment a series of BBC was also closed ahead of schedule time because researchers and subject were out of control of the entire project and wanted to avoid a situation similar to the Stanford prison experimenter. Stanford prison had some questionable cons ands especially on ethics and morals. The experiments can be validated due to the following factors; Zimbardo cited his own observations in the experiment to guide, and which he actively participated as prison superintendent. The guards would not let prisoners empty sanitation bucket, they would punish prisoners by removing their mattresses, leaving them to sleep on concrete. Some prisoners were forced to nude as a method of degradation and some were subjected to sexual humiliation, including simulated homosexual sex. Other observations were high deception in Milgram`s experiment. They had equal chance of playing the role of student or teacher, the process was rigged so all respondent ended up playing the teacher, meaning most of subject played roles they did not want .So was the Stanford prison experiment where subjects would accept parole even with the attached condition of forfeiting all of their experiments participation pay. All parole application was denied. Experiments are supposed to be fact finding missions. In this case, Dr. Zimbardo was not merely a neutral observer, but influenced direction of experiment. Participants based their behavior on how they expected to behave, or modeled it after stereotypes they already had about behavior of prisoners and guards. Participants were merely engaging in role paying. In Latane, B, and Darley experiment, especially experiment two in which pairs and groups subjected under different conditions to see their reactions subjected under different conditions .In experiment one, one subject was alone and other subjects were placed in a room .One subject and two confederates who purposely noticed and ignored the smoke (even when the room became hazy from all the smoke). And in experiment 2 subjects either alone, a friend, passive confide rate or stranger in a room this illustration show in experiment one and two subjects were in groups of two and threes either with friends and strangers In experiment one, 75% of lone subjects calmly noticed the smoke and left the room to report it. In experiment two, 61% pulled back curtain to check experimenter this initial reaction shows concern at early stage when subjected to unusual circumstances. Initial reaction at first is almost similar. However, given time reaction starts to change based on two major categories; majority and minority. People tend to ape what majority of groups do. This is attributed to unusual event of reactions of untrained and unrehearsed with no practiced response to fall back on. In model of intervention this attributed to the risk of being a failure, get sued or even attacked or wounded .This proves unexpected events paralyses reaction at early stages due to fear of being sued or endangering one self. Experiment one and two results to a common trend which exhibits when witnessing danger. In a group or crowd indignance is reduced and fear factor is on decline .However, when integrated with familiar faces urgency to help is high. This is illustrated in experiment two where 70% of friend’s pair offered help. Experiment one and two also shows grouping or being grouped “togetherness reduces fear even when danger isn’t reduced,” 70% of friend pair helped (same alone group) which shows inhibition because 70% lone rate would experience (1% with no inhibition). In experiment three, subjects who are grouped tend to exhibit similar behavior which nullifies group intervention, influences ones behavior either on positive or negative side. People tend to help familiar faces and friends faster than in a group of people who are strangers. This is sited in experiment two. Comparison of Milgram’s experiment on obedience to authority and Latane, B, &Darley, J. shows strong evidence of crowds’ reaction subjected to unusual or unexpected circumstances. There is a tendency of similar reaction .In Latane and Darley J. the murder in 1964 where 38 neighbors watched and listened but did not act to help or call police shocked the nation. However, neighbor’s reaction `s were not much different than in other emergency situations where people “watched the drama in helpless fascination. This reaction is also similar to subjects who saw a simulated fall and subsequent moaning about hurt leg results that showed 61% pulled curtain to check experimenter but nobody went to report the incident. Milgram’s experiment on obedience to authority is very much different from Latane, B and Darley, J. where subjects were asked to administer shocks to the learner. Instructions were also given when questions were not answered correctly. Teachers were instructed to administer severe electric shock to the learner .They were also instructed to treat silence as wrong answers hence administering electric shock. Shock levels were labeled from 15 to 450 volts. Besides the numerical scale, verbal anchors added to the frightful appearance of the instrument. Beginning from the lower end, jolt level were labeled slick shock, strong shock very strong shock, intense shock and extreme shock. There was no grouping experiment which was based on individuals as opposed to Latane were subjects were grouped under different circumstances to evaluate reactions and behavior .In Milgram’s experiment subjects knew they were under strict supervision to the extent where additional instructions were imposed to subject like, Teachers were asked to force the learners hand to shock plate so they could deliver punishment. This also proved the teachers had good judgment even under intense pressure. Results of both experiments that is Mailgram’s experiment and Latane, B &Darley show making decisions under extreme pressure is difficult, watching drama in helpless fascination or seeking somebody screaming in agonizing pain is not that easy ,one must notice the event and interpret it as an emergency. Then decide if he has responsibility to act, and if so what kind of assistance should be used is not rationalized. Also results were categorized into two to three groupings or categories. In Mailgram’s experiments they were subjected into three basic groupings ,obeyed but justified ,obey but blamed themselves and those who rebelled .Latane, B and Darley ,J experiment one, indicated the most subjects had similar reactions, togetherness reduces fear even when danger is not reduced. People in group were less afraid thus less likely to act .In experiment two of Latane, B &Darley, J 61% of subjects pulled the curtain to check the experimenter, 70% of friend pair helped some alone which shows inhibition because 70% lone rate would expect 91% with no inhibition .Experiment three results were 20% of subjects reported spontaneously and 51% reported upon prompted by store owners. Experiments are supposed to be fact finding mission; the function of experiment is to either create or test a theory. It is a method of investigating causal relationships among variables. Experiment is a cornerstone of the empirical approach to acquiring data about the world and is used in both natural sciences and social science. Basically Stanford Prison experiment can’t be classified or used as a reference experiment because subjects were influenced to achieve desired results as opposed to Darley and Latane experiment. Which use observation and analytical approach? An experiment can be used to help solve practical problems and to support or negate theoretical assumptions. Many hypotheses in such as experiment causality by noting that, until some phenomenon occurs, nothing happens; then when the phenomenon occurs, a second phenomenon is observed. Darley and Latane experiment tends to illustrate this. Making it credible and viable and can be used as reference to other upcoming experiments to as comparison or supportive. Methods used can support and nullify upcoming project or even other types of research References Brown R. Social Forces in Obedience and Rebellion 1986 Cancan, C &Mc Farland,S. Revisiting the Stanford Experiment 2007 Haney, C. Banks, W.c,& Zimbardo, P.G Study of prisoners and guards in a simulated prison. 1973 Late, B, Darley, J Bystander “Apathy, 1969, 57,244-268 Milgram, S. Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View 1974 Read More