Stanford Prison Experiment
What prevented "good” guards from objecting to the orders from tough/bad guards? Give 3 possible reasons.
The "good" guards may have succumbed to the pressure of conforming to the roles and expectations associated with being a guard. The simulated prison environment created a social dynamic where the guards were expected to assert authority and maintain control. The "good" guards may have felt compelled to align their behavior with the prevailing norms and expectations, even if it meant following the orders of the tough or bad guards. The guards' behavior in the Stanford Prison Experiment could have been influenced by a diffusion of responsibility. When individuals are part of a group or system, they may feel less
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How do you think the prisoners felt?
The Stanford Prison Experiment was conducted over a relatively short period of time (six days) and ended abruptly due to ethical concerns when the guards saw each other in civilian clothes again and witnessed the reconversion of the prison setting to a regular hallway, they might have experienced a sense of relief and disorientation. They would likely realize that the intense power dynamics and the authority they held during the experiment were no longer applicable. Some guards might have felt a release of the pressure associated with their roles, possibly feeling a mix of guilt, self-reflection, or confusion about their behavior during the study. They may have also experienced a shift in their perception of their fellow guards, as the dynamics and roles that shaped their interactions were suddenly stripped away. The prisoners, upon seeing the reconversion of the prison into a hallway and the guards in civilian clothes, might have felt a sense of freedom and relief. They would likely recognize that the harsh and dehumanizing environment they were subjected to during the experiment was over. The prisoners might experience a range of emotions, such as resentment, anger, or confusion, as they process their treatment and the psychological impact of the role they were forced
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Was it right to trade the suffering experienced by participants for the knowledge gained by the research? Why or why not? (The experimenters did not take this issue lightly, although the Slide Show may sound somewhat matter-of-fact about the events and experiences that