Stanford Prison Experiment And Lord Of The Flies

Philosophers, authors, and intellectuals have long debated the distinctions between good and evil, ruthlessness and civilization, and the two sides of human nature within issues illustrating the complexity of human experience and the continued importance of these fundamental problems for navigation in modern reality. For instance, Lord of the Flies by William Golding follows a group of British schoolboys during wartime who crash onto an unknown island and try to create civilization and get rescued, only to end in a moral collapse. Similarly, the "Stanford Prison Experiment," run by Philip G. Zimbardo, investigates behavioral changes in a revolving prison-officer relationship that was stopped prematurely due to severe violence. Despite arguments

For instance, in Zimbardo’s 1971 experiment, the inmates showed evidence of severe psychological distress and learned helplessness, while the guards adopted authoritarian tactics after switching roles. Despite the fact that the guards and inmates in the experiment were normal civilians, they were still able to show aspects of violence beyond their typical means in a fictional reality. Combined with their seclusion from society in a Stanford basement, their sense of humanity was warped within the confines of the "prison," encouraging violent acts toward the inmates—previously guards. Alternatively, during an argument between the group of boys in Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Simon—while being yellowed over—questions the existence of the beast, saying "…maybe it’s only us" (Pg. 106-107). His use of questioning in tandem with later events, such as discovering the parachuter in the trees, suggests a sense of moral corruption on the island. Rather than the oldest of the boys trying to rule out misunderstandings, many of them rush to make conclusions for the thrill of the hunt without adult supervision. This gradual need to kill inevitably strengthens the savage tendencies the boys exhibit, for example, by chanting "Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood" (Pg. 81). Likewise, the overlap between situational and ecological factors can be complex, with direct and indirect influences on aggressive behavior against individuals and