The Stanford Prison Experiment, does it still apply?

2015-04-27T11:19:16-04:00

Nearly 45 years after the controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, many of the things learned are still applicable to today's military. I recently saw a TED talk by Philip Zimbardo, the professor who initiated the controversial experiment in 1971. The TED talk itself is over 8 years old, but it takes his experiences and studies from the intervening years as well as his time as an expert witness for Abu Ghraib defendants.
Would you concur with Dr. Zimbardo's assessment that it is the small victories of everyday heroes that prevent the willful use of power for evil?

http://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil?language=en

The psychology of evil

Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 11:32 AM

2015-04-27T11:32:49-04:00

I think that the Stanford Prison Experiment will always stand. The experiment itself proved a piece of human nature that has been replicated in other studies and real life situations.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 10:32 AM

2015-04-28T10:32:55-04:00

One of the first responses to this experiment is usually acknowledging the power of peer pressure and the then to denigrate those involved in the study as "sheep" who did not have enough will power to overcome their environment. This criticism is refuted by the study itself. The most important take-away from this experiment for military leaders should be the power of the command climate you create by your actions/inactions.

Response by CPO Mark Robinson made Dec 12 at 2017 7:59 PM

2017-12-12T19:59:09-05:00

Of course it does. Look at Parris Island and all thats going on there. I was stationed at Recruit Training Command San Diego during the early 90s and I seen some crazy stuff happening. People showed up there trying to enhance their careers and end up turning into psychopathic lunatics. Any rational person would sit back and say "what the hell were they thinking."