Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. We took Mattie for a walk around the Washington, DC National Mall. The ponds were filled with seagulls and ducks. I remember I had brought a bag of bread for Mattie to feed the birds. I also recall that a person strolling around the Mall came over to me and talked to me about NOT feeding the birds. She told me it wasn't good for the birds. Needless to say, I did not pay a bit of attention to her because under the circumstances, if Mattie wanted to feed the birds, and it made him smile, then I WAS GOING TO FEED THE BIRDS.
Quote of the day: You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’ ~ Dave Barry
This morning, I was listening to a podcast while getting showered and dressed. Within the show, the hosts mentioned the Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971. I know when I was in graduate school, I am quite certain we reviewed this research and the ethical ramifications on both the researcher and the subjects.
By today's standards, one would ask.... HOW ON EARTH did this study pass any institutional review board? Or how come this psychologist, who worked for the University, wasn't fired because of his unethical behavior? Mental health professionals are supposed to do no harm! Clearly for the subjects in this study, harm was very apparent and part of me wonders what the long term consequences were for these subjects. Ironically, when I tried to google this exact question, I found very little information.
In a nutshell, the Stanford Prison Experiment was designed to assess how personality and the environment can effect a person's behavior. Around 70 students answered a newspaper ad to participate in a psychological study addressing prison life. These students signed informed consents, underwent psychological testing and only 24 of the 70 students were admitted into the study.
The student prisoners were actually arrested, taken into custody and processed, before landing up in a mock jail. Literally the research team transformed the basement of the psychology building at Stanford into a prison. The regular classroom doors were removed and replaced with doors that had bars on them. The hallway to these three classrooms was considered the "yard." The only space prisoners could walk (to access the bathroom), otherwise they were in their rooms.
Half of the subjects were randomly selected to serve as prisoners and the other half were guards. The guard 'subjects' received NO training. One would think that these students would recognize, remember, and reflect on the fact that they were in a study and that they really weren't the roles they were playing. However, what transpired is truly mind blowing and down right scary. These students LOST their identity, and called themselves by prison ID numbers! The guards became punitive, cruel, and abusive toward the prisoners and the prisoners became stressed, depressed, and lost hope that they would ever see the light of day. From our rational outside world view, this study leaves us asking.... how is this possible? Why didn't students just say, enough is enough. I am out of this study! No I will not treat my fellow students this way, or have myself treated in this fashion.
Here is a direct quotes from the principal investigator, Philip Zimbardo:
Our planned two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life had to be ended 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.
Their sense of reality had shifted, and they no longer perceived their imprisonment as an experiment. In the psychological prison we had created, only the correctional staff had the power to grant paroles.
At this point it became clear that we had to end the study. We had created an overwhelmingly powerful situation – a situation in which prisoners were withdrawing and behaving in pathological ways, and in which some of the guards were behaving sadistically. Even the "good" guards felt helpless to intervene, and none of the guards quit while the study was in progress. Indeed, it should be noted that no guard ever came late for his shift, called in sick, left early, or demanded extra pay for overtime work.
After observing our simulated prison for only six days, we could understand how prisons dehumanize people, turning them into objects and instilling in them feelings of hopelessness. And as for guards, we realized how ordinary people could be readily transformed from the good Dr. Jekyll to the evil Mr. Hyde.
The personality transformation didn't just occur to the prisoners and the guards, but to the researcher himself. Instead of behaving and acting like a psychological researcher, he got absorbed and intoxicated in his role as prison administrator. Instead of worrying about the well-being of his research subjects, he was more concerned about protecting the integrity and function of his mock prison! As if he took forgot his own identity after being sucked into this context for six days!
I encourage you to read the link above, if this kind of stuff fascinates you as it does me. I have strong convictions, beliefs, and try to conduct myself with high ethical principles. Not to mention have compassion for people around me. As I reflect on this study, I am confused how students could beat, hurt, or abuse fellow students. I can't imagine myself doing this to another human being. But that is the whole point of this study! Under duress, under toxic conditions, influenced by coercive people, we are all capable of doing the impossible. This study illustrates this tenfold. In any case, it makes me pause.
We live in a complex world and preserving our freedom, rights, and being in control of our own lives are crucial to a healthy existence. I am truly a person deeply impacted by the hurts of other people, and tonight and probably for many days to come, I will be thinking about the survivors of this study and so many others here and around the world living under duress.
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