Understanding the Zombardo experiment

            The Stanford prison experiment, also referred to as the Zombardo experiment, was a study carried out in 1971 by Philip Zombado, a psychologist in Stanford university who sought to demonstrate how people end up slipping into pre-defined roles associated with the position they find themselves in. The study was based on the premise that human beings have the tendency to abandon their beliefs and principles given the right conditions especially when placed in a position of power. In the case of the Stanford Prison Experiment, Zombardo wanted to show how guards become dehumanized and often end up forgetting or neglecting their moral and social values while working in the prison system. Prison guards can therefore benefit from learning about what happened in the study as it explains how the loosening of morals occurred and gives a detailed account of the things that were done to trigger the received outcomes. It can therefore be used to help prison guards to avoid being influenced by the policies and stereotypes that exist in prison regardless of the crimes or behavior of the inmates in their care.

            When conducting the experiment, Zombardo offered to pay individuals who would participate in the study. Out of the 75 people who showed up for the experiment, only 24 were chosen and 12 were given the role of guards while the other 12 were to act as inmates (Resnick, 2018). The inmates were arrested from their homes and taken to the makeshift prison where they were given cheap clothes and even denied innerwear in an attempt to dehumanize them. Guards on the other hand were given military weapons and even wooden batons to resemble guards in real prisons (Resnick, 2018). With Zombardo playing the role of the warden, he could closely observe what was going on in the prison and how the two groups were behaving. The experiment was a true depiction of how people let go of their morals especially in places where there is an expected type of behavior.

            It only took two days for the guards to start using inhumane methods to punish the guards such as confiscating their mattresses and forcing them to sleep on cold floors. When the prisoners revolted, he guards used fire extinguishers and enacted even more humiliation as a way of making the prisoners docile and easy to control (Resnick, 2018). From the experiment, prison guards can observe how the subjects of the experiment forgot their own morals and started acting how they thought prison guards are expected to carry themselves. The not only forgot that they were in an experiment but also resulted to using stricter means of punishment (Hebert & Onishi, 2014). From this, prison guards can learn how to stick to what they believe in rather than what is expected of prison guards. Although the methods used did control the prisoners, the tactics were inhumane and did not place any importance in rehabilitation which should be the core focus of the prison systems.

            The experiment was able to prove that people, especially when in authority, are capable of inhumane acts even when unwarranted. An example of this is when the guards denied the prisoners permission to use toilet facilities as they became more of a privilege (Konnikova, 2015). They even made the prisoners wash the toilets using their bare hands. From the experiment, it is also clear that most of the reactions from the prisoners were as a result of the cruel treatment they were forced to endure (Konnikova, 2015). Even when the inmates stopped revolting, the guards continued to use the same harsh treatment. Prison guards can therefore observe the results from the experiment and come up with better ways of handling inmates and even find more humane ways to punish those who do wrong.

            Originally, the experiment was meant to last for two weeks. It was however ended after five days as it was discovered that the inmates were experiencing mental traumas and emotional distress. Zombardo had even started to be negatively affected by the experiment and two inmates had already been sent home by the time the researchers saw it fit to end the experiment (Shuttleworth, 2017).  The extent to which the treatment the inmates were forced to endure should act as caution to prison guards who may not fully understand how to go about handling inmates. Instead of following the example set by other guards, prisoners should follow their own principles and morals to come up with the appropriate methods to control and punish inmates when necessary.

            The main purpose of the Stanford Prison Experiment was to show how easily people could be corrupted especially when placed in a setting with its own set of norms. The experiment was designed to emulate most prisons and follow the practices carried out in actual correctional facilities. Immediately after the experiment commenced, the inmates took up the roles expected for prisoners while the guards developed the attitude associated with prison guards. From the experiment, guards can learn where people go wrong especially when it comes to abandoning their morals and engaging in inhumane acts. As prison guards, the objective should be to follow ones principles and engage in humane conduct even when dealing with criminals.

 

 

References

Hebert S and Onishi L, (2014) “The Stanford Prison experiment: Implications for the care of the difficult patient” American Journal of Hospice and Pallative Medicine

Konnikova m, (2015) “The real lesson of the Stanford prison experiment” The New Yorker

Resnick B, (2017) “Philip Zimbardo defends the Stanford Prison Experiment, his most famous    work” VOX

Shuttleworth M, (2017) “Stanford prison experiment”