If you think about crazy experiments then you can stop thinking and GOOGLE! You will get a list which will make you think more!
Then again did you know there was an experiment which literally made power go into people’s head!
Power is the most dangerous DRUG! Once you get it or use it then it is very difficult to let go!
However good you are, your actual test is when you you have power!
One such experiment was the STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT! It was so scary that the experiment which was supposed to go on for two weeks or so was closed in less than 6days!
Officially the Stanford Prison Experiment was a 1971 social psychology study conducted at Stanford University.
It tried to examine how people react to institutional power, authority, and assigned social roles.
Done between August 14–21, 1971 (terminated on the 6th day instead of the planned two weeks); the location was the basement of Jordan Hall (the psychology building) at Stanford University.
The Lead Researcher was Psychologist Philip Zimbardo.
The Participants were 24 male (thankfully!) college students selected from applicants after psychological screening.
They were paid $15 a day and randomly assigned to be either “guards” or “prisoners”!
It was as real as possible in an experiment!
The experiment had proper MOCK Arrests! “Prisoners” were actually picked up at their homes by local Palo Alto police officers, booked, fingerprinted, and brought to the mock basement prison!
Then came the De-individualization!
The prisoners were given numbers, chains on their ankles, and basic smocks/dresses without underwear!
Guards were given khaki uniforms, whistles, and mirrored sunglasses to prevent eye contact! You had to be TOUGH!
If you thought being tough was difficult, well it was not!
There quickly happened an escalation of stature!
Guards quickly adopted aggressive, authoritarian behaviors, forcing humiliating routines and physical exercises.
The Prisoners however suffered severe emotional distress, anxiety, and depression!
The experiment was successful but at a price!
Luckily a graduate student Christina Maslach objected to the ethical conditions after observing the abuse, leading Zimbardo to shut down the simulation after just six days!
Modern reviews and released audio tapes revealed that Zimbardo and his staff actively coached, guided, and pressured the guards to behave aggressively, rather than letting the situation unfold naturally!
The experiment is widely viewed by the psychology community as a flawed or fraudulent demonstration rather than a controlled scientific study!
Then again it does show light to the fact that Power goes into anyone’s head so fast and stays there! The average HUMAN is actually capable of being cruel and not feel bad about it! We are in a constant state of control!
Then again some humans are capable of doing wonders and create magic! Just like the great composer DEVA! Still listen to many of his classics! He will be missed…
Heartfelt condolences
OM SHANTHI…
