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  • Essay / Stanford Prison Experiment: The Impact of the Environment on People

    The environment and the roles a person assumes tend to impact their thinking and action. A person who is constantly humiliated is likely to become helpless and develop massive levels of submission. On the other hand, a person with various powers to perform certain roles is likely to develop a character similar to the norm in terms of functions and abilities, regardless of their typical nature. Philip Zimbardo conducted experiments at Stanford University, where he studied the impact of the prison environment on prisoners, guards, and prison guards. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The experiment was conducted in a basement room at Stanford University, where Philip Zimbardo was a psychology professor. Eleven participants were recruited, including guards and prisoners, and Zimbardo took on the role of prison director. Prisoners were to be randomly arrested at their homes and taken to the local police. They would then cover their faces and be taken to the fake Stanford prison. In prison, they were stripped naked and given prison uniforms and an identification number that would serve as their name. Their belongings were also confiscated and closed. On the other hand, the guards were given uniforms similar to those of real prison guards. The experiment lasted only six days, although it was supposed to last two weeks. During these six days, different aspects were observed. First, the guards easily assumed their roles and expressed brutal and sadistic personalities towards the prisoners. They could be grouped into friendly, cruel and very cruel classes. It depended on how they treated the prisoners. The prisoners were rebellious at first. However, they developed a sign of helplessness, and over time their submissiveness to the guards grew. Some expressed withdrawal symptoms and continued to cry and want to leave the prison. However, their alleged feeling of being in a real prison prevented them from getting out because they needed a lawyer to do so. One prisoner was extremely overwhelmed by prison life and couldn't take it anymore. However, when Zimbardo informed him that it was not a real prison, it was a psychological experiment, he told him his name, he recovered and his withdrawal symptoms disappeared. This experience has huge implications for recreational facilities about their roles and what is ethical. First, the behavior of prisoners and guards insinuates the prison environment and has a significant impact on how participants begin to feel about themselves once in prison. The guards assume stereotypical characters, aggressive, sadistic and cruel towards the prisoners. They begin to view prisoners as less human beings. On the other hand, prisoners forget their authentic self and assume that of a criminal. No matter how oppressed they are, they submit more because they feel helpless and less human. Experience shows that the torture inflicted on prisoners by guards has a significant negative impact on their mental well-being. The research also exposes the broken system in correctional centers. Correction centers are supposed to correct the bad behavior of prisoners and not that torture causes them mental trauma. The Zimbardo Prison experience is indicative of the impact of a person's environment on their behavior. Once again, this gives a..