Introduction
The Stanford prison experiment is a classic example of a psychological study deifying the principles of ethics. The experiments should have been stopped when the participants started to be aggressive with each other under the impact of prison conditions. The violent behavior reported during that experiment is a direct contradiction to the very concept of ethics (Alexander, 2001). However, despite all the horrors that contradict ethics, Zimbardo’s research contributed to the formation of social psychology. Therefore, it was unethical to conduct this experiment.
Social Significance and Constructs
The author of the Stanford prison experiment noted the enormous influence of social roles on relations between groups and within them. Researchers have proven the relationship between the psychological reaction of a person and the imposed social and behavioral mode (Alexander, 2001). In other words, the experiment showed the construct of the socially-affected personality. Human behavior is conditioned by the dogmatic patterns established within society. In the course of history, scientists have often been forced to show violence to gain valuable results. The Stanford prison experiment was not an exception and required radical conditions to gain efficient results. Such outcomes could have been gained only by putting people in adverse conditions. Such a method is not time-consuming, allowing the achievement of bias-free results. Therefore, the only possible change which can be implemented is gaining the informed consent of the participants. However, more fundamental changes can contradict the initial idea of modifying social status in extreme cases.
Conclusion
Both mentioned concepts of conformity and social situation are directly connected with the Stanford prison experiment. For example, the social construction of aggression which is the moving force of power is seen in this experiment. The power made people feel superior, which caused prejudice formation. The experiment shows the direct influence of the concept of conformity and the social situation. The surrounding rules based on which the society within the investigation existed impacted the participant. As a result, during the brief period, participants reshaped their perception of reality and adjusted their behavior to the required social situation patterns. These concepts are especially proven within the moment when the guards started to treat their classmates as a prisoner trying to bully them. This is the direct impact of the social situation and conformity of the human psyche to the surrounding conditions.
Reference
Alexander, M. (2001). Thirty years later, Stanford prison experiment lives on. Stanford Report. Web.