Blog: So what do you conclude from this experiment? Does it give you any insight into human behavior? What will humans be willing to do, why they’ll do it, what they are capable of doing and not doing? Putting aside Hitler for the moment, what kinds of behavior does this experiment help to explain, not only in history but in our own times? Due Tuesday.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Milgrim Experiment - Due Tuesday 11/1
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
45 comments:
From this experiment I can conclude that people are willing to go as far as you let them go. When given control humans tend to abuse that power. Humans are capable of doing anything, it's just a matter of if someone is willing to stop or "control" them. This experiment helps explain why humans are so easily influenced by others and why we as humans feel that it's easy to not say/do something than to say/do something. In relation to our time now it also helps explain why there are so many bystanders who are willing to witness anything wrong and not do or say anything.
This experiment really displays how human nature truly is to follow. Throughout the film it displayed how people become power crazy, and how they get when they feel as though they have no choice other than to be controlled.The majority of the people listened to the person that decided to take the role as the leader no body would stand up for the person that acted out. This truly represents how Hitler came to power and how people allow things like this to happen.Like Frank I agree that people only go as far as you let them go and if you stop people before they get out of control you can ultimately eliminate the bullies.
From watching the video I have came up with my own conclusion. When a person has taken a role whether if its a violent or kind character. They become apart of it.Their insight on what is wrong will change. They will become open to anything they would not normally do. Such as the play security guard degrading the play prisoners as if they are not as worthy. But the play prisoners mind allowed them to think as if they were prisoners. Which made the guards believe they had the upper hand. From the experiment that was performed of being and working in a prison. I've learned that a person's behavior will change if they become intertwine with the environment they are living.
After watching the video I conclude that humas are massed up in the head when you treat people the way the guards did then that means you have a evil mind and you don't really care about others. Yes it does give me more insight about the human mind because it telling me that humans only have a one track mind, they think about one aspect of a situation and not the other. I think humans now of days will do anything for money because in my opinion that is the thing that runs are life everyday cause thats what most americans live off of and without money you can't maake a living, also people are capable of doing anything for money.
What interests me, is not how far people are willing to go, but rather how far they DO go because of the presence of an authority. I doubt that under ordinary circumstances (that is, with no supervision or authority present) people would be as likely to go to such extremes. This was also demonstrated when instructions were given via telephone. There is a "reduced" presence, and with it there is a reduced sense of power. Why? As I see it, it's a sense of intimidation and subordination that we have maintained throughout our history (as a trait of the ego) which likely exists to prevent conflict to help us secure resources. With this in mind, it's likely that the motivation to attain a reward (in this case, the money paid to participants) is the initial spark to participate. It has also been demonstrated that the longer one has to wait or the harder one has to work for a reward, the greater the motivation. However, in the case of these two experiments it may be that this is the primary motivator, especially in the latter where prison guards were able to exercise free will. In the case of these guards, it may indeed very well be nothing more than a manifestation of character BECAUSE they can exercise free will. Nike mentions that human nature can go a long way; it can, but it still varies greatly.
After viewing this experiment, I feel that I can conclude from it that most humans will follow an authority figure when it is present, and that it is human nature to follow others. They are capable of doing anything, it is just that there has to be something there to either cause or stop it. In the case of the experiment, the power given to the guards is what allowed them to be so cruel. This helps to explain all kinds of behavior not only in history, but also in our owns times. There are many bad leaders in history that people followed anyway, including Hitler, and the repetition of this shows that it is human nature to do this. In our own times, we see that people do these same things, and one example is bullying that goes on in schools. There are tons of people who witness it, yet they do nothing about it, just because that person has power. This is what I can conclude from this experiment.
It is safe to conclude that this experiment truly does shed some light on human psychological behavior. Through certain conditions and when subjected to a higher authority, the behavior of a human being can be manipulated. It's only human nature to follow a higher authority, but in turn, we are giving authority by doing this. It's a vicious cycle that causes humans to submit more and more, giving more and more authority to whomever is controlling them. Not only does this explain how dictators like Hitler assume their power and gain their authority over a seemingly innocent population, but it also sheds some light on our behaviors when we are called upon by a higher authority. Even when we observe some sort of wrong doing, we are often believe the cost of voicing your concern outweighs the cost of staying silent.
After watching this experiment today in class, I have come to conclusion that regardless of how good a person is, when put in an unusual, often authoritative position, one may change their normal behavior. The security guards, in this case, were given the power to act cruelly towards their "prisoners." People are forced to accept whatever the person of higher authority has to say, and it is difficult to refuse their orders and just say no. However, I agree with 20Watts when they say that "I doubt that under ordinary circumstances (that is, with no supervision or authority present) people would be as likely to go to such extremes." Aside from Hitler, this behavior can occur within our own school. For instance, a teacher, for the most part, receives the up-most respect from her students. However, students don't regard substitute teachers with as much respect because they feel that it isn't necessary. That's the same thing with this situation, if there wasn't someone around who they might not think they have to obey, they won't.
The Milgram Experiment gives a lot of insight into human behavior. It showed how human beings would be willing to degrade other humans. It also showed how people would let the degradation occur without saying anything. And most surprisingly it showed how abused people will not stand up and fight against an oppressor. This experiment explained how even in our own time people would be obedient to "authority" even if they did not have to be, and even if the situation calls for them not to be obedient they still would be.
From this experiment I conclude that the way people act has a direct correlation to the environment they are in. Even though the men in these experiments were normal good natured men when put in positions of power many lost they're morals and acted in ways they normally wouldn't. Not everyone acting as aggressively as some of the prison guards did but the ones who didn't, did nothing to stop them. they got caught up in the simulation and followed the lead of all the other bad guys. I was very surprised by all this. I tend to be naive when it comes to people and always think the goodness will come through and this is a perfect example of how this is not always the way it is. LIke Frank said humans are capable of doing anything.
The experiment seems to support the conclusion that the basic instinct of humans is to try to survive. Whether that means abandoning others to worse fates, or subjecting them to those fates,or even just failing to stop the suffering, most of us will choose the option that we benefit from the most. For example, in the study, one of the "guards" was extremely degrading toward the "prisoners." This allowed him to be in a position of power which gave him enhanced control over others. The other guards also did not step in to stop him, perhaps fearing that they would receive some of the insults themselves. Their lack of action may have saved them from being subjected to the same embarrassments as the prisoners. The guards' actions showed that it only takes one well motivated, ambitious person to get a whole population of people to follow him, so long as none of them stand up to him. In addition, the prisoners lack of action when one of their comrades was locked in "solitary" for days proved that they wanted to look out for only themselves. When asked by one of the guards if they would trade their blankets to let their fellow prisoner out of solitary, they denied, choosing their own comfort over ending the suffering of their companion. I am sure that most people would consider trading their blanket to help someone in that situation. The fact that these prisoners did not hesitate to do so, shows just how twisted their mind sets had become, despite the jail only being an experiment.
This experiment caused me to come to the conclusion that humans are capable of going to any extreme if nobody is there to stop them. When humans are given power, more than likely they will abuse that power, especially if nobody is making sure they are being fair. I also realized that if someone with good morals is put into power, they may disregard their own morals. This can help explain why some leaders in the past such as Hitler went to such extremes while nobody was there to stop him. People today are still bystanders which may be the reason that the government runs our country, and not the people.
I think that the Stanford University prison experiment is just as bad as being in an actual prison or even an insane asylum. Humans have the ability to obey any type of law that is set forth on them yet they are capable of doing whatever they want. Some people can't stand being confined in a small space as a form of punishment. They might start to behave erratically and go insane as time passes on. I highly agree with Nike on how human nature really is.
The Milgrim experiment definitely gives me insight into human behavior. At first, I was confused by the experiment; if both the prisoners and the gourds knew the prison was simply an experiment, why were their actions taken so far? I couldn’t believe that the main guard interviewed could be so cruel and degrading. It’s amazing that by giving someone power, even if the power is relatively “made up”, it still effects how that human views him or herself. Humans seem to lose all morals once given the ability to be superior. What really amazed me was when the main guard was interviewed after his time ended as a guard; he disassociated himself with the character whose “role” he took on- as if this wasn’t really him. However, he had no problem inflicting real pain and emotional trauma on the “inmates”. Therefore, he should feel responsible for the role he played. The fact that human beings can feel no remorse while doing something so cruel shows that humans will go farther and farther until they are forced to stop.
This experiment helps show why humans are so obedient- for instance, possibly why there is usually one friend in a group of girls or boys that “leads” the others, and those who follow tend to listen to exactly what they are told- even though they are not being forced to.
After watching this video it made me very irritated. It made me so angry because I could not fathom something like this being experimented after the effects of the holocaust. To watch people being degraded and mistreated disgusts me to the extreme extent. It goes to show that people will do anything for someone, and for some reason they unfortunately become manipulated by those who hold the ultimate "power." Humans are willing to do anything if it does not involve themselves being focused on. This experiment help shows that even when its in pretend, people can let power get to their heads causing them to become destructive. Once one person becomes brainwashed, its easy for a leader to take control of the rest. We, the United States, need to have more leaders rather than followers. We have to stop giving in and start being our own persons and become leaders. I agree with Purple because she talks about how the prisoners did not hesitate bettering themselves in situations over looking out for the other person. Their minds had become so twisted and brainwashed that they couldn't think clearly.
I conclude that human behavior can become very different and unexpected when humans are put in certain situations or predicaments. Its a very extraordinary thing to witness. I witnessed it first hand today when we watched that filmed experiment, it was quite shocking to see. I think this tells you and human behavior has the potential to cause humans to anything when humans are put into certain situations and predicaments. This experiments portrays that people take orders and obey superiors or people giving them orders and telling them what to do For some reason, this is just a part of human nature. Also, when harassed enough, humans will break down and disengage with each other, causing everyone to be independents just out for themselves. Lastly, when put into a poor enough situations with enough abuse or harassment, humans's mind and conscience will begin to become distorted and lose sight of reality. This behavior relates to how humans acted during the prosecution and maltreatment during the holocaust.
This experiment was pretty scary when you think about the things people are willing to do for an "authority" figure. When you put people in situations where there is an authority present, they will do what they are told without opposition. This showed us humans are capable of doing almost any action, even conciously hurting people when an authority figure tells them to. This explains many issues in our time, such as situations in the army or prison where people can be treated poorly because an authority tells them to.
I found from this experiment that given the circumstances people will take advantage of things whenever possible. They might not mean any harm, but it just happens. Like if someone told me to act as a king I would boss people around because thats what kings do, so given that its a role play makes sense. But what doesnt make sense is that these people volunteered to do this and within 2 days they already forgot it was volunteer and they actually acted like guards and prisoners, rebelling and using your power wrongfully. I hope that if I were in that position I would not act like that, but who knows.
I thought the experiment was pretty interesting, and definitely provided an insight into human behavior. I think that it showed how humans are capable of doing a lot when they are given specific orders. The guards were supposed to act like real prison guards, but I think it sort of got out of hand because of this new power. The experiment also showed that if someone is treating you a certain way, it can affect how others treat you and how you think of yourself. We saw that in the way the "prisoners" acted. I think that the experiment helps to explain how oppressive political leaders in history were able to take control of their nations using what they knew of human behavior. That was definitely a unique human experiment, and I think we could take many lessons from it.
I learned how far the tolerance level of an individual can be pushed until they hit their breaking point. The Milgrim experiment most definitely gives me an insight into human behavior. I learned that human behavior can be determined by ones surroundings as well as the influence of their peers. Humans are only willing to go as far as necessary, but are more than often influenced by a higher official or individual bidding them to continue a certain act. It seems in most cases human are not entirely capable of thinking for themselves. This in one way can really highlight why things such as peer pressure are such a big deal. People who are unable to think for themselves allow others to do it for them. I agree with abc123 when they say that this experiment shows how easily an individual can be manipulated and told to follow a certain belief, behavior, or instruction.
After watching this experiment I think it was showing how long a person can be pushed around for until they hit a point were they go off. Also this had to deal with who had more power and the prisoners didn't have the power to step up and say anything because they were afraid. A lot of people that can them selves allow other to think about them in such a way. I think the more power you have on an individual people try to abuse that power like Hitler for example he wanted to take over the whole world because he wanted to show how much power he had and abuse it to. I do agree with Blazing Bill this does have to show how people were feeling during the Holocaust
This experiment shows that people are followers and some are very weak. Human behavior can be easily manipulated by people in authority. It's frightening to think that people will continue to hurt others when someone in authority is ordering it. Human behavior can be cruel and heartless. We need people to stand up to authority and challenge them when we know their behavior is uncivilized. Our leaders need to be carefully chosen.
What i concluded from this experiment is that people unintentionally are subjected to change based on what kind of power they have and where they fall on a social status. The "guards" were given power over the "prisoners" and because they were in this world set up not to be disturbed by anything, they assumed the role of power and authority over the prisoners who were actually simply peers. Likewise, the prisoners took on a very obedient role and acted as though they were actually under actual authority and had no choice but to obey. It helps explain countries that may be under a dictatorship. Those in power feel as if they are able to do what they want with the people who feel as if they have no right to stand up for themselves. And everyone falls into a role that does not upset the power given and is obedient as shown in the Milgrim experiment. Its sick.
I concluded that people will become obedient to a higher authority figure than themselves. In regards to the jail/guard experiment, the "prisoners" were comply compliant with the rather unjustifiable treatment of the guards. This is because they felt as though they had to because of the higher position the guards held. Humans will not really do anything under a dominant rule. Only a select few (in the experiments case, the prisoner who went on a hunger strike) will actually step up and take action against a tyrannical rule. This experiment helps explain a lot about history. It explains that humans are willing to give up personal freedoms and let a dictator take charge. It also provides evidence that humans will almost always back down to a more dominant power.
I concluded from this experiment that the setting of where you are can influence how you may act and treat others. This can be in a good way, or sometimes in a bad way. People will do what it takes to keep a higher authority over others. The human behavior is to have power, or during conflict try their best to make the favors end the way they would like. Humans are willing to do what ever it takes, even if that means harming others. In many cases they have guilt, but continue to do so to keep the upper hand. Humans are capable of doing anything, its the matter of their character for how far they will take it. This experiment helps to explain that people enjoy having a higher power, and those who dont have the power do what it takes to be punished the least. they dont want any more harm to come to them even if that means watching others suffer, or helping to make them suffer. In history and today people dont realize when the right time is to step up and not be a bystander. Many times you think, oh its only this once, but then you continue to say that as the problem continues to happen. We has humans dont get into a conflict that we arent apart of because we dont want it to become our problem, or even put ourselves in jeopardy
After learning about this experiment, I concluded that it was overall just a way to test how much pain one person would inflict on another purely based on an experiment. People won't stand up for themselves, but instead just follow the authoritative leader, in this case the guards. The prisoners simply had to accept the pain given to them by the authorities without question. People seem to go to utmost lengths to command authority over one another. Just like Sally says, humans are capable of doing anything, its just the matter of their character for how far they will take it. Inflicting pain on a person, even if gaining authority, shouldn't happen since it is morally wrong. When asked to carry out actions that go against standards or morality, there is a very limited amount of people who will have the power needed to resist authority. Humans are willing to do just about anything in order to stay on top, making them capable of an infinitely amount of things. This experiment helps to explain behavior not only in history, but in our own times as well. Now a days, people still want to be the leader at all times and pressure others to follow their ways. Being the leader means having control over everyone, and that is what most people strive for above morality.
I feel that human behavior can be affected by the environment they are in and when given a big role can have a bigger ego. It was an experiment, yet they went all the way through with it, which really suprised me. It seemed to me like the guards took advantage of the power even though they were not suppposed to go that far. It was kind of messed up how the person asking the questions and turning up the voltage had no idea that it was actually being limited.
The experiment displays that under the circumstances of people given power they abuse it or abide to whatever they have to do to get the job done. The first experiment and/or study showed tha people listen to authority even though they know it isn't right because they are somewhat scared. In both experiments it shows that people only really look at themselves and forget that they are harming others. In the second experiment, it shows that once someone realizes hey have control over a situation, they can continue to exercise it. They get lost in it and begin to take on a role that is unimaginable. The guy who hosted the experiment realized as taking on the role of the warden, he was biased to not letting the Prisoners go and needed someone to step in to show the reality of the situation. The most extreme participant was the guard who basically gave himself the role as the guard with the most power and no one intervened to his degrading ways. Even giving him a nickname which he was called because of his stern and demands he gave to the prisoners. I think that humans will always back down out of fear to a power that threatens anyone or them in order to in some ways save themselves.
I think this experiment shows that when an authority figure is around people will be willing to do almost anything they say even if it means it will hurt someone else. I think its just about the way we've been brought up that makes us respect authority. I also think things have changed a lot since this experiment was conducted. This helps explain most childrens respect for their teachers as well as other human respect for authority. I also think the question when it comes to the holocaust shouldnt just be what are humans willing to do but also how much they're willing to watch.
This experiment was very interesting. It showed how people can react when they are put in a power position, and also when they feel there is no hope. It gives me a lot of insight into human behavior. The experiments started out at just people playing a role, but it turned into something a lot more then that. If an authority figure tells someone below them to do something, that person feels that they now have authority and can harm the other person, because they were told to do so. If they have their own morals, once they are pushed to their limit, they might not be capable of doing anything else. This kind of behavior helps to explain prison guards that are hard on their prisoners. I agree with senio12s 4/5 that it also helps to explain how in groups of boys and girls usually one person takes the lead, and the rest follow.
This experiment shows how easily humans thoughts and behaviors can be altered. we often do things without thinking about the possible consequences. our capabilities go beyond our imagination or contradict they things we believe in and stand by. This experiment is another example of things that have happened in the past. People have been manipulated, tricked, and history shows how the innocent can do the unthinkable; the stanford experiment explains why. letting them play roles of people with high authority or none at all forced them to change their habits and lifestyle, but unexpectedly changed their mindsets.
I think that in certain situations people will adjust to their environment and will behave in the fashion suitable. LIke in the experiment if you put normal people in a hostile and reckless environment, the person will begin to act in an evil way. I feel that people in society only act in the way that their environment is portrayed. Underdeveloped neighborhoods will seem like the hood or the ghetto. Then in suburban area will seem to be where very sophisticated people will live. If anything all of this is psychological more than anything.
The Milgrim experiment showed that human beings will do things that they normally wouldnt do when an authority figure was in the room. Humans will knowingly hurt another person if they are told to do so. Very few people stood up and said that they would not administer the possibly deadly shock. This experiment explains that people, when told to do so, will listen to an authority figure even if they know that it hurts another person.
From this experiment I think it was pretty clear and evident that people may unconciously do things that they might not normally do. It shows what some people are truly capable of. Some even torture others just because they're being forced or coarsed into doing so. Explains bullying and how some people can treat others really bad without even thinking to much about why they're doing it and how it makes them look as a person. I agree with trainingwheels and how some people fall into certain roles unknowingly because what others do can have a huge impact on them.
From this experiment i can conclude human behavior is not as predictable as we might like to think. Good people were found to do things that aren't considered good. Humans will be willing to do some out of character, and harmful things when they are fearing authority or somehow harming themselves. Also, the experiment shows that people are capable of NOT standing up for what they believe in even when they know things are not right. This experiment helps to explain the fear people have of authoritative figures and how it can determine their actions.
I agree with RNTD9 that this helps to explain children's respect for teachers
This experiment shows that when people are approached by an authority figure,they will do anything they say, but the further away the authority figure is, the less a person will listen. People will go as fas as an authority figure will tell them to go i think becasue they are afraid of what the authority figure will do to them. They will even end up hurting someone to an extent which is unbearable just becasue of what someone tells them to do. When an authority figure is around, humans basically loose there own thought and its taken over by the authority figure. They are like complelled to be obediant. I agree with Nike when they say that the film shows how people become power hungry and will take things ot the extreme in unreal situations just becasue they put on a costume.
I can conclude a lot from this experiment. It's shocking that people give into pressure if one person is directing them. I see how this compares to nazi Germany because the people were following hitlers orders. They had become imprisoned to his ideas and did not voice hems elves no matter what they really thought. I concluded that if I was in this study I would have just walked out. They thought they didn't have a choice but they did just like the Germans. Hitler was really smart. This shows how people are easily manipulated.
I concluded that human behavior changes very greatly when they are being watched by a person of higher power. It gave me insight into what people are willing to do in the presence of authority. They will do whatever the majority is doing and will not stand up for something that does not effect them even if they know it is wrong.
The milgrim experience shows the true personalities of individuals when they are given authority and power or are put in position where they are victims. Many will act different based off how comfortable they are with having authority or dealing with situations as a victim. The experiment also shows how under higher authority you become very obedient for the higher authority. It seems you become more comfortable doing what you're told when a higher power influences your decisions.
Correction..... To my name. It's Scott Nails 9
From this experiment, though it's somewhat hard for me to believe, I can conclude that humans can often be tricked into giving into authority. Though all of the subjects in this experiment knew that this was only a study, and not a real jail, they still gave in to authority. On another note, this experiment really shows how humans can ultimately give succumb to authority and be tricked into following rules, which may not even be real. This experiment helps explain behaviors of people when they are subjects to authority and obey unjust rules. When people believe that they are prisoners or subjects to oppression, they are much more vulnerable and likely to be persuaded to do things against their will.
I believe these people are very weak minded and cannot think for themselves. I was always taught i didn't have to do anything that i didn't want to by my parents so i feel that if a authority told me to do something that was unreasonable i would not do it and just have to take my punishment. This study was conducted only using weak minded people that would do anything anybody say with an authoritive tone.
Seeing this it makes me think about bullying because they would start to act more powerful and then the other guards wouldn't do anything. It is compared to bullying because there were bystanders. It aslo shows that some people have evil inside them
This experiment taught me that when your under control of others that you do exactly what you are told to do, even if it is not the right thing. When humans become powerful they begin taking control of others, which is also horrid. It shows that the nazi were under the strict brainwashing of Hitler, and I believe history can repeat itself, and it explains why the holocaust itself happened. It is normal behavior for to act when they are in control or put under control.
Post a Comment