Comments on: Serious Questions about the Stanford Prison Experiment http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/ Sharing ideas and provocations on living single while happy. Reflecting on the social psychology of stereotypes and other cultural phenomena. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:46:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rachel http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-4719 Rachel Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:00:50 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-4719 Yupp, humans are strange... They go around screaming at people they don't even know and threaten to shoot people (all caps is considered screaming on the web). Overall, I am not quite sure what you're upset about: That the experiments showed how people cruel people can be or that people decided to do these kinds of experiments or that I can write about the experiments without getting all upset? I presume it's the conducting of the experiments. Remember, though, that you're speaking from hindsight: We now know that this is what happens because of Zimbardo's experiments (although, as Fromm pointed out, we did have a real world experiment to analyze). Also, the experiment was halted earlier than planned because of the implications found. So, it's not like the experimenters went on pressing people to behave in cruel ways. I don't know what films you're referencing. You mean the attempts to replicate the SEP? Yupp, humans are strange… They go around screaming at people they don’t even know and threaten to shoot people (all caps is considered screaming on the web). Overall, I am not quite sure what you’re upset about: That the experiments showed how people cruel people can be or that people decided to do these kinds of experiments or that I can write about the experiments without getting all upset? I presume it’s the conducting of the experiments. Remember, though, that you’re speaking from hindsight: We now know that this is what happens because of Zimbardo’s experiments (although, as Fromm pointed out, we did have a real world experiment to analyze). Also, the experiment was halted earlier than planned because of the implications found. So, it’s not like the experimenters went on pressing people to behave in cruel ways. I don’t know what films you’re referencing. You mean the attempts to replicate the SEP?

]]> By: Samantha http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-4718 Samantha Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:08:16 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-4718 what da f*** and watched both versions of the film .....WELL THIS JUST shows how SICK HUMAN beings really are...... that includes PHIL ZAMBARDO.. i mean did the people really need to conduct this experiment to know a human being could or would react like this?? The way you talk on your site is like it was all ok nothing to worry about and it was normal. Rubbish, this is entertainment....in a film yeah but based on a true story..well..... fascinating. I may not be shocked anymore by the way the human race behaves but I surely am still fascinated and disgusted. Ok I should get over it but Im entitled to voice my opinion and this is it I BELIEVE ITS WRONG, NO ONE SHOULD BE PUT TO THE TEST .......ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS!!! I MEAN WHY RISK IT???? WHAT WOULD YOU DO ...AND THERE IS YOUR ANSWER!!! Im 24 years of age and I dont know much and I have one hell of alot to learn one thing I have learned is that politicians and professors (MAJORITY of them) should be lined up and SHOT and not a day goes by where they prove me wrong...but hey Im just another guinea pig getting PI**e* of over stuff thats going on in this world BUT NONE OF US CAN REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT...(PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NOT YET READ ANYONES COMMENTS ON THIS OR ANY OTHER SITE but I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT so am voicing some of my thoughts on ANY SITE relating to this matter. thanks s what da f*** and watched both versions of the film …..WELL THIS JUST shows how SICK HUMAN beings really are…… that includes PHIL ZAMBARDO.. i mean did the people really need to conduct this experiment to know a human being could or would react like this?? The way you talk on your site is like it was all ok nothing to worry about and it was normal. Rubbish, this is entertainment….in a film yeah but based on a true story..well….. fascinating. I may not be shocked anymore by the way the human race behaves but I surely am still fascinated and disgusted. Ok I should get over it but Im entitled to voice my opinion and this is it I BELIEVE ITS WRONG, NO ONE SHOULD BE PUT TO THE TEST …….ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS!!! I MEAN WHY RISK IT???? WHAT WOULD YOU DO …AND THERE IS YOUR ANSWER!!! Im 24 years of age and I dont know much and I have one hell of alot to learn one thing I have learned is that politicians and professors (MAJORITY of them) should be lined up and SHOT and not a day goes by where they prove me wrong…but hey Im just another guinea pig getting PI**e* of over stuff thats going on in this world BUT NONE OF US CAN REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT…(PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NOT YET READ ANYONES COMMENTS ON THIS OR ANY OTHER SITE but I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT so am voicing some of my thoughts on ANY SITE relating to this matter. thanks s

]]> By: Kat Snow http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-3890 Kat Snow Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:40:05 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-3890 Hi there, I agree with your comments on Zimbardo. I find myself that he resembles one of those American televangelists. A self made, money making one man force! I am a psychology undergraduate in the UK and am fortunate to have one of the most brilliant modern psychologists Dr Alex Haslam at the uni. He conducted the BBC Prison study which is the modern take on the SPE. Alex spoke to some of us about his experiment but I have also read his study in great detail myself. There are some key differences in the way things were conducted and via manipulations. Mainly, it was more scientific and ethical. Zimbardo is very negative about this study but I think maybe because it contradicts his and does not have the flaws that his had. Although in typical Zimbardo style, one can find an interview with Zimbardo praising the study and another saying the opposite!! The guy can't make up his own mind so how can anyone else respect him. I also dislike him for trying to support the criminal behaviour of the guards at Abu Ghraib, thank goodness the jury found them guilty regardless. I hate to think that they could have got away with that abuse just because of him and his old fashioned and unsupported views. Having studied other "classic psychology studies" I would say objectively that Zimbardo's SPE study is the most flawed of them all. I found comments on this website insightful and stimulating and if you would like anymore info or a copy of the Haslam & Reicher study I can email it. Thanks Kat Hi there,

I agree with your comments on Zimbardo. I find myself that he resembles one of those American televangelists. A self made, money making one man force!

I am a psychology undergraduate in the UK and am fortunate to have one of the most brilliant modern psychologists Dr Alex Haslam at the uni. He conducted the BBC Prison study which is the modern take on the SPE. Alex spoke to some of us about his experiment but I have also read his study in great detail myself. There are some key differences in the way things were conducted and via manipulations. Mainly, it was more scientific and ethical. Zimbardo is very negative about this study but I think maybe because it contradicts his and does not have the flaws that his had. Although in typical Zimbardo style, one can find an interview with Zimbardo praising the study and another saying the opposite!! The guy can’t make up his own mind so how can anyone else respect him. I also dislike him for trying to support the criminal behaviour of the guards at Abu Ghraib, thank goodness the jury found them guilty regardless. I hate to think that they could have got away with that abuse just because of him and his old fashioned and unsupported views.

Having studied other “classic psychology studies” I would say objectively that Zimbardo’s SPE study is the most flawed of them all.

I found comments on this website insightful and stimulating and if you would like anymore info or a copy of the Haslam & Reicher study I can email it.

Thanks

Kat

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-1187 Rachel Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:49:58 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-1187 Nope. Haven't seen Lake of Fire... I'll check it out. Nope. Haven’t seen Lake of Fire… I’ll check it out.

]]> By: philip http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-1186 philip Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:57:19 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-1186 You're welcome. BTW I just watched "Lake of Fire." I thought Kaye was a bit self-indulgent (2.5 hours!?!? give me a #$%$# break!). But parts are interesting. Really took me back to early 90s abortion politics. Did you see it? Cheers Philip You’re welcome. BTW I just watched “Lake of Fire.” I thought Kaye was a bit self-indulgent (2.5 hours!?!? give me a #$%$# break!). But parts are interesting. Really took me back to early 90s abortion politics. Did you see it?

Cheers
Philip

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rabe.org/serious-questions-about-spe/comment-page-1/#comment-1185 Rachel Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:45:39 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=165#comment-1185 Thanks, Philip! More to add to my reading list... I think doubt and skepticism are non-overlapping, fundamentally different concepts that often overlap, especially in my <a href="http://klugethebook.com/" rel="nofollow">mind-kluge</a>. Just kidding! Skepticism is usually a good thing... Thanks, Philip! More to add to my reading list…

I think doubt and skepticism are non-overlapping, fundamentally different concepts that often overlap, especially in my mind-kluge. Just kidding! Skepticism is usually a good thing…

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