“ordinary people” doing evil by adam roberts and mackenzie sevenants

““Ordinary People” Doing Ordinary People” Doing EvilEvil

By Adam RobertsBy Adam Roberts

AndAnd

Mackenzie SevenantsMackenzie Sevenants

SummarySummary

Throughout human history there has been evil in the Throughout human history there has been evil in the world. Many people believe that some people are born with world. Many people believe that some people are born with evil hearts and intentions. But what about those seemingly evil hearts and intentions. But what about those seemingly normal people, people like you and me, who do evil and normal people, people like you and me, who do evil and sadistic things? This is known as the Lucifer Effect, which sadistic things? This is known as the Lucifer Effect, which states that people who are psychologically normal will do states that people who are psychologically normal will do evil things under certain circumstances. The Lucifer Effect evil things under certain circumstances. The Lucifer Effect is based around the human mind’s power to make people is based around the human mind’s power to make people “kind or cruel, caring or indifferent, creative or destructive, “kind or cruel, caring or indifferent, creative or destructive, and makes us villains or heroes.”- Philip G. Zimbardoand makes us villains or heroes.”- Philip G. Zimbardo

Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

Summary Continued…Summary Continued…

There have been a few experiments done to test the There have been a few experiments done to test the theory of the Lucifer Effect. The two most know theory of the Lucifer Effect. The two most know experiments are “The Stanford Prison Experiment” experiments are “The Stanford Prison Experiment” which was carried out in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo, which was carried out in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo, psychology professor at Stanford University. The psychology professor at Stanford University. The second well know test was “The Milgram second well know test was “The Milgram Experiment” which happened in 1961 under Stanley Experiment” which happened in 1961 under Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University.Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University.

Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 20111999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

The Stanford Prison The Stanford Prison Experiment Experiment

In 1971 a psychology professor at Stanford In 1971 a psychology professor at Stanford University, Philip Zimbardo, put together an University, Philip Zimbardo, put together an experiment to test how students at the school experiment to test how students at the school who have a normal mental history would behave who have a normal mental history would behave in a real life prisoner and guard situation. in a real life prisoner and guard situation.

The Experiment began with Zimbardo choosing The Experiment began with Zimbardo choosing twelve students to be guards and twelve to be twelve students to be guards and twelve to be prisoners in a fake prison at the University. prisoners in a fake prison at the University.

--Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 --Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

The Stanford Prison The Stanford Prison Experiment ContinuedExperiment Continued

As predicted by Zimbardo, the students who were picked As predicted by Zimbardo, the students who were picked as guards attitude’s changed because of the role they as guards attitude’s changed because of the role they were given. They started to act as if they really had were given. They started to act as if they really had power over the prisoners. They psychologically and even power over the prisoners. They psychologically and even physically began to torture the prisoners. Soon, the physically began to torture the prisoners. Soon, the prisoners began to psychologically breakdown and go prisoners began to psychologically breakdown and go along with the abuse. They even began to obey the along with the abuse. They even began to obey the orders of the guards. orders of the guards.

Like Zimbardo also predicted, the students began to act Like Zimbardo also predicted, the students began to act as if it were a real prison and they were the guards and as if it were a real prison and they were the guards and prisoners. They had actually taken their roles seriously as prisoners. They had actually taken their roles seriously as if it was real. if it was real. Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

Results of The Stanford Prison Results of The Stanford Prison ExperimentExperiment

Zimbardo’s goal for this experiment was to understand the Zimbardo’s goal for this experiment was to understand the abuse that goes on in prison by testing out the idea that abuse that goes on in prison by testing out the idea that these students would develop the traits of actual guards these students would develop the traits of actual guards and prisoners. and prisoners.

Only after one day of being in the prison, one of the Only after one day of being in the prison, one of the students had already begun to show a dramatic change in students had already begun to show a dramatic change in his attitude and was removed from the experiment his attitude and was removed from the experiment because of his psychological state. because of his psychological state.

The experiment was suppose to last for a total of fourteen The experiment was suppose to last for a total of fourteen days but was closed only after six because of the danger days but was closed only after six because of the danger the students were to each other. the students were to each other.

Philip G. Zimbardo “The Lucifer Effect” 1996 http://www.prisonexp.org/ Philip G. Zimbardo “The Lucifer Effect” 1996 http://www.prisonexp.org/ Understanding how good people turn evil November 2011Understanding how good people turn evil November 2011

Results of The Stanford Prison Results of The Stanford Prison ExperimentExperiment

The final conclusion supported that idea The final conclusion supported that idea that the students did not “inherent” these that the students did not “inherent” these changed personalities but that the situation changed personalities but that the situation which they were in caused their violent and which they were in caused their violent and evil behavior. evil behavior.

Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

The Milgram ExperimentThe Milgram Experiment

The Milgram Experiment occurred in 1961 and was The Milgram Experiment occurred in 1961 and was organized by Stanley Milgram of Yale University. organized by Stanley Milgram of Yale University.

This Experiment was to test people’s compliance to This Experiment was to test people’s compliance to obey orders of an authority figure even if it went obey orders of an authority figure even if it went against the patient’s moral beliefs and conscience. against the patient’s moral beliefs and conscience.

Kendra Cherry “The Milgram ObedienceKendra Cherry “The Milgram Obedience ExperimentExperiment” ” 2011 Psychology Guide Web 2011 Psychology Guide Web November 2011 November 2011


Milgram gathered a group of over 100 Milgram gathered a group of over 100 participants to be apart of the test. participants to be apart of the test.

The participants we given the job as a The participants we given the job as a “teacher” and were told that another “teacher” and were told that another participant was the “learner”. The participant was the “learner”. The “teachers” did not that the “learners” “teachers” did not that the “learners” were actually just actors.were actually just actors.

Kendra Cherry “The Milgram ObedienceKendra Cherry “The Milgram Obedience ExperimentExperiment” ” 2011 2011 Psychology Guide Web November 2011 Psychology Guide Web November 2011


The “teacher” and “learner” were placed in separate The “teacher” and “learner” were placed in separate rooms in which they could talk and hear each other but rooms in which they could talk and hear each other but could not see each other.could not see each other.

The job of the “teacher” was to ask the “learner” The job of the “teacher” was to ask the “learner” questions and each time the “learner” would get a questions and each time the “learner” would get a question wrong the “teacher” would hit a button which question wrong the “teacher” would hit a button which would deliver an electric shock to the “learner”.would deliver an electric shock to the “learner”.

The electric shock would gradually become stronger The electric shock would gradually become stronger and stronger to the point where the “teacher” knew and stronger to the point where the “teacher” knew that the “learner” was experiencing extreme pain. that the “learner” was experiencing extreme pain.



The “teachers” all noticed the danger and The “teachers” all noticed the danger and pain that they were causing the “learner” pain that they were causing the “learner” but when they asked the experimenter if but when they asked the experimenter if they should stop, the experimenter would they should stop, the experimenter would respond by saying things like “Please respond by saying things like “Please continue” and “You have no other choice, continue” and “You have no other choice, you must go on”. you must go on”.

Kendra Cherry “The Milgram ObedienceKendra Cherry “The Milgram Obedience ExperimentExperiment” ” 2011 Psychology 2011 Psychology Guide Web November 2011 Guide Web November 2011

The Milgram Experiment The Milgram Experiment ResultsResults

It was predicted that only a very small fraction of the It was predicted that only a very small fraction of the test subjects would inflict the maximum amount of test subjects would inflict the maximum amount of voltage of 450 volts. By they were in for a huge surprise voltage of 450 volts. By they were in for a huge surprise when they were proven wrong and two thirds of the when they were proven wrong and two thirds of the “teachers” delivered that final 450 volt shock to the “teachers” delivered that final 450 volt shock to the “learner”.“learner”.

Based on these results, it was concluded that the Based on these results, it was concluded that the “teachers”, who were normal people and had no “teachers”, who were normal people and had no background of doing evil or sadistic things to other background of doing evil or sadistic things to other people, had delivered that dangerous 450 volt shock, all people, had delivered that dangerous 450 volt shock, all while knowing that the “learner” was in terrible pain, while knowing that the “learner” was in terrible pain, because and authority figure had told the it was ok to do because and authority figure had told the it was ok to do so. so.


Explanations and Explanations and ConclusionConclusion

In conclusion The Stanford Prison Experiment was In conclusion The Stanford Prison Experiment was extremely accurate and realistic. What was predicted to extremely accurate and realistic. What was predicted to happen in the experiment was what happened in the real happen in the experiment was what happened in the real life at the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq. life at the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq.

The Abu Ghraib Prison was run by American soldiers who The Abu Ghraib Prison was run by American soldiers who were not fit to control the group of Iraqi inmates. The were not fit to control the group of Iraqi inmates. The Soldiers treated them in the same ways as shown in The Soldiers treated them in the same ways as shown in The Stanford Prison Experiments but even worse. These Stanford Prison Experiments but even worse. These “normal” people were brought to do evil things to these “normal” people were brought to do evil things to these people by torturing them physically and mentally. people by torturing them physically and mentally.

Martyn Shuttleworth “Stanford Prison Experiment” 2008 Experiment-Martyn Shuttleworth “Stanford Prison Experiment” 2008 Experiment-resources.com Novermber 2011 resources.com Novermber 2011

Explanation and ConclusionExplanation and Conclusion

People act in these evil way in these circumstances People act in these evil way in these circumstances because when they are given the specific role, they because when they are given the specific role, they turning into that character and act in a way that turning into that character and act in a way that character would act. character would act.

When told by a authority figure in which they look up to, When told by a authority figure in which they look up to, they may feel uneasy about it but most people will still do they may feel uneasy about it but most people will still do what they are being told to do even though it is what they what they are being told to do even though it is what they are against. are against.

It’s a very interesting subject to think about because in a It’s a very interesting subject to think about because in a way all of us have a dark, evil side in which we will go way all of us have a dark, evil side in which we will go sadistic things under certain circumstances. sadistic things under certain circumstances.

Professor Christina Maslach “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Still powerful after all these Professor Christina Maslach “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Still powerful after all these years” August 12, 1996 Stanford New Service November 2011years” August 12, 1996 Stanford New Service November 2011

Work Cited PageWork Cited Page

Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 Philip G. Zimbardo “Stanford Prison Experiment” 1999 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011 http://www.prisonexp.org/ November 2011

Philip G. Zimbardo “The Lucifer Effect” 1996 Philip G. Zimbardo “The Lucifer Effect” 1996 http://www.prisonexp.org/ Understanding how good people turn evil http://www.prisonexp.org/ Understanding how good people turn evil November 2011November 2011

Kendra Cherry “The Milgram ObedienceKendra Cherry “The Milgram Obedience ExperimentExperiment” ” 2011 Psychology 2011 Psychology Guide Web November 2011 Guide Web November 2011

Martyn Shuttleworth “Stanford Prison Experiment” 2008 Experiment-Martyn Shuttleworth “Stanford Prison Experiment” 2008 Experiment-resources.com Novermber 2011 resources.com Novermber 2011

Professor Christina Maslach “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Still powerful Professor Christina Maslach “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Still powerful after all these years” August 12, 1996 Stanford New Service November after all these years” August 12, 1996 Stanford New Service November 20112011

“ordinary people” doing evil by adam roberts and mackenzie sevenants

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