Reicher & HaslamReicher & Haslam Rethinking The Psychology of Rethinking The Psychology of

TyrannyTyranny

BackgroundBackground

What were Reicher & Haslam What were Reicher & Haslam interested in?interested in?

Rethinking the Psychology of TyrannyRethinking the Psychology of Tyranny

Tyranny: the arbitrary and/or oppressive Tyranny: the arbitrary and/or oppressive exercise of power in an unequal social exercise of power in an unequal social systemsystem

Why did tyranny need Why did tyranny need rethinking?rethinking?

Zimbardo’s SPEZimbardo’s SPE Implications of SPEImplications of SPE Changing face of tyrannyChanging face of tyranny Rise in number of people imprisonedRise in number of people imprisoned Alternative theory – SITAlternative theory – SIT

Zimbardo’s Zimbardo’s SPESPE

Issues from SPEIssues from SPE

Conclusions focussed on the power of social Conclusions focussed on the power of social roles & group membership in shaping roles & group membership in shaping behaviour. People have little choice in what behaviour. People have little choice in what they do, they behave according to assigned they do, they behave according to assigned rolesroles

Implications of these conclusionsImplications of these conclusions Tyrants cannot be held responsible for what Tyrants cannot be held responsible for what

they do, and so should not be challenged, their they do, and so should not be challenged, their behaviour is an behaviour is an inevitable product of the inevitable product of the situation they are in situation they are in

Issues from SPEIssues from SPE

EthicsEthics Ideas from SPE have not really been Ideas from SPE have not really been

tested or challenged as conditions in the tested or challenged as conditions in the study became so extreme study had to be study became so extreme study had to be terminated, not thought possible to terminated, not thought possible to replicate the study ethicallyreplicate the study ethically

SPE conducted in 1969SPE conducted in 1969

TerrorismTerrorism

Can terrorist actions be explained using Can terrorist actions be explained using theories of social roles and group theories of social roles and group membership?membership?

Are these people responsible for their Are these people responsible for their actions is their behaviour and inevitable actions is their behaviour and inevitable product of the situation they are in?product of the situation they are in?

Changing face of TyrannyChanging face of Tyranny

Changing face of TyrannyChanging face of Tyranny

Abu GharibAbu Gharib

In 2004 it came to public attention In 2004 it came to public attention that Iraqi prisoners at Abu Gharib were that Iraqi prisoners at Abu Gharib were

being abused at the hands of American soldiers. being abused at the hands of American soldiers. Prisoners were stripped naked sexually humiliated, they Prisoners were stripped naked sexually humiliated, they

were wired up and told to stand on a box – if they fell off were wired up and told to stand on a box – if they fell off they would be electrocuted. they would be electrocuted.

They were beaten and tortured both physically and They were beaten and tortured both physically and psychologically all whilst soldiers took pictures of psychologically all whilst soldiers took pictures of themselves smiling with their thumbs up next to their themselves smiling with their thumbs up next to their victims.victims.

Several soldiers were tried and convicted to as many as Several soldiers were tried and convicted to as many as 10 years in prison for their actions. 10 years in prison for their actions.

Many blamed the hideousness of the situation, orders Many blamed the hideousness of the situation, orders from above and a lack of information on how to behave from above and a lack of information on how to behave appropriatelyappropriately

Changing Prison PopulationsChanging Prison Populations

If putting people into prisons makes their If putting people into prisons makes their behaviour worse and the behaviour of their behaviour worse and the behaviour of their guards brutal then we need to look again guards brutal then we need to look again at our criminal justice system.at our criminal justice system.

Over 9 million people are imprisoned world Over 9 million people are imprisoned world widewide

In England & Wales 80,000 people are In England & Wales 80,000 people are imprisoned, a huge rise since the 1960’simprisoned, a huge rise since the 1960’s

Alternative Theories - SITAlternative Theories - SIT

Social Identity TheorySocial Identity Theory People only act in terms of group People only act in terms of group

membership if they identify with the group membership if they identify with the group (self categorisation)(self categorisation)

Self categorisationSelf categorisation

PermeabilityPermeability If group members believe that it is possible If group members believe that it is possible

to move out of the group they will not to move out of the group they will not categorise themselves as group memberscategorise themselves as group members

Self categorisationSelf categorisation

SecuritySecurity How aware are the group members of How aware are the group members of

alternative ways of thinking about the alternative ways of thinking about the group membership and the relationship group membership and the relationship with other groups, if they are aware of with other groups, if they are aware of alternatives they may challenge alternatives they may challenge inequalitiesinequalities

Dispositional vs. Situational Dispositional vs. Situational HypothesisHypothesis

Dispositional – tyranny is a direct result of Dispositional – tyranny is a direct result of individual characteristics that pre-exist in a individual characteristics that pre-exist in a personperson

Situational hypothesis – anybody will Situational hypothesis – anybody will behave in a tyrannical way when placed in behave in a tyrannical way when placed in a certain situation or role regardless of a certain situation or role regardless of their personal characteristics their personal characteristics

Free will? Free will?

Free will – we have choices about the way Free will – we have choices about the way we behavewe behave

Determinism – we are forced to behave in a Determinism – we are forced to behave in a particular way because of the situation we particular way because of the situation we are inare in