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Stanford Prison Experiment Ethical Questions

825 Words4 Pages

Tessa Miller
Professor Knox
SOC 201/9am- Ch 2. Sociological Research Assignment
2018, January 26
Stanford Prison Experiment
“Raising ethical questions” Is it alarming that people consider “experimental torture” ok? “In 1971, psychologist Phillip G. Zimbardo began what was to be a two-week experiment examining the psychological effects of prison life. The experiment ended abruptly within six days due to extreme stress and depression on the part of the participants acting in the role of prisoners”. (“The Stanford…”). The volunteer subjects were casted into two groups, guards and prisoners. The prisoners were searched naked and given dresses to wear. Meanwhile, the guards were given uniforms as well as weaponry such as clubs and were told to do whatever they had to do to maintain order. The Stanford Prison Experiment raises ethical questions because there were many unsound strategies and procedures being used such as: torturing and teasing, violation of rights, and exploitative relationships. The Stanford University’s Psychology department put on an experiment that involved twenty-four Male college students. It is true that the guards and prisoners entered Stanford as students in similar situations; intelligent, middle class men, but this is certainly not how they played their roles in the experiment. During the prisoner’s time there, they went through many abusive and humiliating circumstances. The Guards on the other hand, found enjoyment in their powerful role. The

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