Topic > An Analysis of Humanity's Evil Nature in the Stanford Prison Experiment

Morality vs. Evil NaturePsychology is how humans are able to gain a deeper understanding of each other. People who study psychology experience surprising results about the ways of humanity. Dr. Phillip Zimbardo is a psychologist known for his research into the corruptive ways of human nature. In 1971, Dr. Zimbardo conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment. This experiment tested what happens when ordinary people are locked up in an evil place like prison. Will morality defeat evil or will evil triumph? Like Dr. Zimbardo, Hsun Tzu was also involved in understanding the human mentality. He wrote about his beliefs in “The Nature of Man Is Evil.” The outcome of Dr. Zimbardo's experiment demonstrated that evil outweighs good. Despite those who disagree with Dr. Zimbardo's impression of his experiment, the Stanford Prison Experiment confirms that a negative environment will nullify an individual's ethical behavior through lack of authority and the influence of others. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Without a proper authority figure to teach us morality, we become blind to it. In the experiment, one participant was nicknamed "John Wayne" for his ruthless behavior towards fellow prisoners. He abused his guard power and began dehumanizing the prisoners in cruel ways. No one stopped him and no one showed him the wrong in what he did. His abuse of power continued until the end of the experiment because he lacked proper guidance. Tzu's theory shows that evil will grow from the absence of authority as he argues: "Now let someone try to eliminate the authority of the ruler... He will find that the powerful force themselves on the weak and rob them... and in no time time the world will be abandoned to chaos and mutual destruction” (Tzu 88). The world around us has tendencies that lead to degradation and disorder. We have witnessed to such acts in the experiment as the guards showed harsh ways in treating people they considered inferior to them The man's cruel ways will prevail over his good Mob mentality is the way people are influenced by people's behaviors surrounding them. The experiment showed this mentality as the guards copied each other's negative behavior. The guards wore identical uniforms with reflective sunglasses that prevented anyone from seeing humanity through their eyes. The environment they occupied caused evil. Day after day, the guards repeatedly harassed the prisoners with the help of “John Wayne.” His unethical treatment of prisoners led other guards to mock his behavior or become bystanders. At the end of the experiment, he wonders why no one stopped his behavior. This reveals our selfish nature of witnessing evil but not stopping it. Tzu concludes this analysis by reflecting, “But if a man associates with men who are not good, then he will hear only deception and lies, and see only conduct marked by wantonness, wickedness, and greed” (92). The environment in which humanity lives will appeal to morality or its negative ways. In an environment that involves people displaying negative behavior, it will impact others to influence that same behavior. Influenced people will become victims of their own selfishness. On the opposite side, some do not agree with the conclusion of.