Week Two Blog: Stanford Prison Experiement

Do you think the Stanford Prison Experiment was ethical? Why or why not? (Feel free to also write about any other aspects of the experiment that you find interesting or noteworthy.)

The Stanford Prison Experiment, in my opinion, is unethical by definition. But in all fairness to Dr. Zimbardo, he could not have known that internalization and institutionalization would occur during his study. Most criticism, in my opinion, has been done with the privilege of  hindsight. Not without more stern controls, could another experiment similar to this one be authorized today.  I found this experiment very intriguing though. It was amazing to see within a matter of days how dark and inhuman human nature can become. One third of the guards began to exhibit an  intense and secure action of cruelty, and shockingly Zimbardo himself became internalized in the experiment. Two of the prisoners had to leave the experiment early due to them exhibiting major signs of emotional distress. Interestingly, none of the prisoners decided to leave the experiment early, even when told that they would not receive  pay for their participation. These prisoners became adjusted and institutionalized their roles very quickly. Zimbardo  thought that the experiment showed that social and ideological factors determine how individuals act in a way that they thought was required, rather than using their own judgment and referring to their own internal morals or beliefs.