Gurnit Chima
Mr. Dodds
Psychology; period 5
5 September 2013
The Truman Show
Truman Burbank is used for an experiment. Psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, Kendra
Cherry says “The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables.” Every aspect of Truman’s life is controlled by the tv show. The crew of the show control what is said to him, the environment, people, etc. The crew already know what is going to happen him since they control the setting. Truman lives in a very big lab/tv set.
Truman is forced unknowingly to do everything. For example, the girl he marries is forced by …show more content…
Our identity is how the world sees us. Truman does not have that. Christof forces Truman into a specific identity and does not allow Truman to experience a normal life.
The components of an experiment to be ethically correct is that the participant must choose to do the experiment or not. In The Truman Show, Truman is not told he his going/being filmed.
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The time he was close to finding out what was going on was when Lauren was about to tell him, but then was taken off the show. Another component of ethical research is that the researchers must obtain informed consent, which the movie does not follow either. Also, there has to be confidentiality. The participant can withdraw from the experiment when they want, it is their right.
Truman tries to escape, but he is caught by the actors and taken back to his home. The tv show has no sense of ethics and proper experimenting.
The tv show does everything in their power to keep control of Truman’s life. When Truman is on the boat, trying to escape, the director tells his crew to set off a dangerous storm. Everyone thinks he is going to drown. He almost dies. The Network Executive says “We can 't let him die in front of