The Stanford Prison Experiment
Abstract
Ethics in psychological research and testing is one of the most important issues today. The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted over 40 years ago, brought these ethical issues into the limelight and remains one of the most controversial studies in the history of studying human behavior. This paper aims to define ethics, describe risk/benefit ratio, provide a brief background on the Stanford Prison Experiment, and evaluate the impact it has had on psychological research. The Stanford Prison Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment probably tops a lot of lists when it comes to the issue of unethical research. It cannot be replicated today due to its inability to meet the standards established by numerous ethical codes, including the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code. Nevertheless, the Stanford Prison Experiment remains one of the most important studies in how situations can influence human behavior. According to Cherry (2010), “The study recently garnered attention after reports of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses in Iraq became known. Many people, including Zimbardo himself, suggest that the abuses at Abu Ghraib might be real-world experiences of the same results observed in Zimbardo’s experiment.”
Ethics
Ethics refers to the moral standards that govern an individual, group, or societal behavior. Research in the field of psychology deals with a number of issues, and maintaining ethical practices are imperative in ensuring the participants, the knowledge being sought, and the study itself characterize utmost integrity. In order to ensure that researchers know their ethical responsibility in seeking knowledge and improving the quality of life, the American Psychological Association has completed an Ethics Code “that deals with such diverse issues as sexual harassment, fees for psychological services, providing advice to public in the media, test, construction, and classroom teaching” (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister & Zechmeister, 2009). Before a
Ethics in psychological research and testing is one of the most important issues today. The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted over 40 years ago, brought these ethical issues into the limelight and remains one of the most controversial studies in the history of studying human behavior. This paper aims to define ethics, describe risk/benefit ratio, provide a brief background on the Stanford Prison Experiment, and evaluate the impact it has had on psychological research. The Stanford Prison Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment probably tops a lot of lists when it comes to the issue of unethical research. It cannot be replicated today due to its inability to meet the standards established by numerous ethical codes, including the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code. Nevertheless, the Stanford Prison Experiment remains one of the most important studies in how situations can influence human behavior. According to Cherry (2010), “The study recently garnered attention after reports of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses in Iraq became known. Many people, including Zimbardo himself, suggest that the abuses at Abu Ghraib might be real-world experiences of the same results observed in Zimbardo’s experiment.”
Ethics
Ethics refers to the moral standards that govern an individual, group, or societal behavior. Research in the field of psychology deals with a number of issues, and maintaining ethical practices are imperative in ensuring the participants, the knowledge being sought, and the study itself characterize utmost integrity. In order to ensure that researchers know their ethical responsibility in seeking knowledge and improving the quality of life, the American Psychological Association has completed an Ethics Code “that deals with such diverse issues as sexual harassment, fees for psychological services, providing advice to public in the media, test, construction, and classroom teaching” (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister & Zechmeister, 2009). Before a
References: Cherry, K (2010). The Stanford Prison Experiment. Retrieved February 16, 2012, from http://psychology.about.com/od/classicpsychologystudies/a/stanford-prison-experiment.htm Doran, A, Hoyt, G, & Morgan, C (2006). Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERS) Training. Drury, S., Hutchens, S. A., Shuttlesworth, D. E., & White, C. L. (2011). Philip G. Zimbardo on his career and the Stanford Prison Experiment 's 40th anniversary. History Of Psychology, doi:10.1037/a0025884 Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2009). Research methods in psychology (8th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.