Social Psychology and the Stanford Prison Experiment by Philip Zimbardo

Social psychology is an empirical science that studies how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. This field focuses on how individuals view and affect one another. Social psychology also produces the idea of construals which represent how a person perceives, comprehends or interprets the environment. Construals introduce the idea that people want to make themselves look good to others and they want to be seen as right. It is also said that the social setting in which people interact impacts behavior, which brings up the idea of behaviorism. Behaviorism is the idea that behavior is a function of the person and the environment. The ideas of social psychology mentioned above can be applied to the Stanford Prison Experiment; in which the environment, the participants, and construals brought about behaviors that may not have been how the participants actually would behave in real life. The Stanford Prison Experiment was conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo of Stanford University. The purpose of the experiment was a landmark study of the human response to captivity, in particular, to the real world circumstances of prison life. In social psychology, this idea is known as â€Å"mundane realism†. Mundane realism refers to the ability to mirror the real world as much as possible, which is just what this study did. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to play the role of "prisoner" or "guard" and they were made to conform to these roles. Subjects became so entranced in these roles that the guards started to behave as if they really were the guards of a true prison. Zimbardo had told them to think of themselves in this way and it led to the guards mentally abusing the prisoners with their cruel and degrading ro... ...ion people based on the orders of Adolf Hitler and his henchmen. In reference to the two situations, one participant of the study said that â€Å"anybody can be a guard, but not every one becomes sadistic.† This saying can be applied to real life situations, especially that of the New Jersey incident. These occurrences can be analyzed using social psychology because the environment, the situation, and those holding the authority influenced the behavior of others. Due to these influences, prisoners and guards acted on the roles they were given, in the way that society sees them. The description, in itself, is the definition of social psychology. Works Cited Ratnesar, Romesh. July/August 2011. The Menace Within. Stanford Magazine, pp. 1-9. Smothers, Ronald. (1998, February 6). Asylum Seekers Testify on Abuse by Jail Guards. The New York Times, pp. 1A, 9A.

Annotated Bib. a Separate Piece

Juan Carlos Garcia Ms. Garcia A. S. English 3-4 20 November 2012 A. S. English 3-4: An Annotated Bibliography Knowles, J. (1959). A Separate Peace. New York: The Macmillan Company In this nonfiction book based in the years of World War 2, the tragedy that happened to Finny during a summer at Devon set the topic for the story about the novel. During a summer at Devon Finny’s best friend, Gene, who is thoughtful and intelligent and had also developed a love-hate relationship with Finny, made a decision that would end in the death of Finny.They day when Leper, Gene, and Finny were all jumping off a tree at the Devon River there was a serious accident. When Gene and Finny were on a branch in the tree Gene spasmodically decided to shake the branch in order for Finny for all off, although Gene would never admit this to be true. Finny broken his leg and was practically crippled. This â€Å"accident† came to be the main aspect of A Separate Peace. Directly after the accident Br inker was interested in what actually happened that day at the river since it was accepted that Finny just fell off.One day when Gene was alone in his form room Brinker and his friends forced Gene down to the butt room, a room where smoking was allowed. Brinker further investigated that day during the summer by interrogating Gene. Gene felt uncomfortable so he fled. As he returned to his room he saw a very familiar face, it belonged to Finny. Finny had returned from resting at his house after the accident. Life went on and Finny continued to be the leader he was born to be, he instigated a snow ball war and school carnival.Towards the end of the boys’ final year in high school, Brinker gathered all the seniors in order to find the truth of that summer day. Slowly but surely Finny began to remember more and more of that day. What finally set him off to realize what Gene did was the return of Leper. Leper enlisted and went out to the war but began seeing things so people though t he was delusional, so he ran away to his mother’s house and ended up wandering around Devon.At the senior boys’ meeting Leper revealed that while by the base of the tree and looking up at the branch where Finny and Gene were, he saw the shape of a body make a sudden move then he saw the other body fall from the trees. When Finny realized what Gene did he broke out in tears and stormed out of the room. While he was leaving Finny fell down a marble stairway and broke his leg again. The doctor said not to worry for this was a clean break and an easy fix.During surgery on Finny’s leg a bit of marrow escaped from the bone as he was setting it, entering Finny’s bloodstream and stopping his heart. Finny died. This book has a very good theme but was not written to entertain the mind of a high school teen. The theme of friendship and the theme of telling the truth instead of hiding from it can help you overcome problems with your friend helped me out in life per sonally. I saw how what someone can see as white lie can produce even worse problems than the problems that would occur for telling the truth.I have been in situations where I could easily get out of a dilemma by lying but it was exceptionally wrong to do so. I thought this story was boring because besides Finny’s death, Finny falling out of the tree, and the â€Å"trials† on Gene there wasn’t much action. The writing of Knowles taught me to always do what is right no matter the consequence for it, because there may be greater consequences for not telling the truth.

Americans with a Better Cause (Abc), a Nonprofit Organization Essay

According with what we learned so far and the book, there are 4 sources of American law. The U.S. Constitution and the constitutions of the various states. Statutory law—including laws passed by Congress, state legislatures, or local governing bodies. Regulations created by administrative agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration. And finally, case law and common law doctrines. In the case of a federal statute conflicting with the United States Constitution then the Constitution will take priority as it has throughout history of the U.S. Supreme Court. If a federal law is in direct conflict with a state statute, where the â€Å"supremacy clause† is valid, such as interstate commerce for example, then the federal law will be superior. However, if the federal law is NOT one that the federal government has exclusive control over, then the state constitution will control unless the federal government can show there is government need that is greater, as in the case of a national emergency, for example. The U.S. Constitution will always have priority if any law is in violation of it regardless of what its source. If a state constitution does not violate the U.S. Constitution of federal law then it is supreme within the state’s borders, thus in both cases the U.S.Constitution will always prevail. Hence in the case above the DOJ enforcing the constitutional laws trumps the ABC suit conflicting with state law. The U.S. Constitution will always trump any federal statute but it is irrelevant if a federal statute conflicts with a state constitution due to the supremacy clause. US Constitution Art VI, Clause 2 â€Å"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.† Therefore, in settling the constitutional question would, if upheld, eventually by the U.S.Supreme Court if necessary, end the case. But, if not upheld or thrown our of court, then it would have to go to the state court and this might set up another Constitutional challenge, involving again, taking it to the U.S.Supreme Court again.

When I Was Puerto Rican essays

When I Was Puerto Rican essays Growing up in Puerto Rico, Esmeralda Santiago experienced life in a variety of ways. Through her book she shares a number of these experiences, many that played an important role in shaping her as an individual. She shows her experiences from the earliest part of her youth through her life as young adult. Of the many experiences Santiago shares, I think here experiences she lives through while living in El Mangle, as well as in Sabana Grande were two specific periods in her life that helped shape her individuality. Living in the barrio of El Mangle, according to Negi, was an awful place to live. She seemed to develop her opinion the moment she was greeted by the horrible stench in the air. Her experiences with the school in El Mangle, I thought, in some ways became valuable tools shed eventually use in crisis situations. One experience Negi describes during an embarrassing moment showed that there was probably an even earlier interest in performing arts than Negi had originally anticipated. As Negi attempted to solve the math problem center stage, with a bloodthirsty audience looking on, her performing skills had already began to develop. She had no idea that she would be asked to replay a similar role in the future. Being called an ignorant jibara and immediately defending herself presented an unyielding attitude that Negi would benefit in a world of performing. When she describes herself leaving her body, her description of the process resembles a popular scene used in some movie scr ipts. Often time writers will have a particular scene written in their movies where they use a similar process. The deceased man watches the doctors pound on his chest in an attempt to revive him or the woman killed in an automobile accident watches her children mourn as shes laid to rest. Little does she know, but this art of removing the soul from her body, which Negi does, allows her to amaze a panel of judges at her auditi...

Free Essays on The Battle Of The Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo Alamo is the Spanish word for â€Å"cottonwood† and was originally named mision San Antonio de Valero and has been a part of Texas history since 1724. During the early 1800’s a Spanish military cavalry referred to the old mission as the Alamo in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parrass, Coahuila. The Alamo served as a home to missionaries and Indians but most of its inhabitants have been soldiers. The Alamo was home for Revolutionaries and Royalists during the ten-year struggle for Mexican independence. The Alamo was even occupied by Spanish, rebel, and Mexican forces until the Texas Revolution. December 1835, Ben Milam and a group of Texan and Tejano volunteers were involved in a nasty skirmish with Mexican troops quartered in the city of San Antonio. Finally after five days of fighting, General Martin Perfecto de Cos and his soldiers were forced to surrender. The volunteers than occupied the Alamo and strengthened its already fortified defenses. All was good until February 23, 1836. After losing San Antonio to the Texans during the Siege of Bexar, Mexican General Santa Anna determined to retake this key location and at the same time impress upon the Texans the futility of further resistance to Mexican rule. The arrival of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his army nearly caught the volunteers by surprise. Nonetheless, the Texans and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together and they did for thirteen long days against Santa Anna’s army. The commander of the Alamo was Colonel William B. Travis. He sent out couriers to communities in Texas pleading for help. On the eighth day of the siege, a small gathering of thirty-two volunteers arrived from Gonzales, bringing the total number to nearly two hundred. These freedom fighters knew that the Alamo was essential to the defense of Texas and they were ready to die rather than surrender to the Mexican army. As legend goes, Colonel Travis drew a l... Free Essays on The Battle Of The Alamo Free Essays on The Battle Of The Alamo The Battle of the Alamo Alamo is the Spanish word for â€Å"cottonwood† and was originally named mision San Antonio de Valero and has been a part of Texas history since 1724. During the early 1800’s a Spanish military cavalry referred to the old mission as the Alamo in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parrass, Coahuila. The Alamo served as a home to missionaries and Indians but most of its inhabitants have been soldiers. The Alamo was home for Revolutionaries and Royalists during the ten-year struggle for Mexican independence. The Alamo was even occupied by Spanish, rebel, and Mexican forces until the Texas Revolution. December 1835, Ben Milam and a group of Texan and Tejano volunteers were involved in a nasty skirmish with Mexican troops quartered in the city of San Antonio. Finally after five days of fighting, General Martin Perfecto de Cos and his soldiers were forced to surrender. The volunteers than occupied the Alamo and strengthened its already fortified defenses. All was good until February 23, 1836. After losing San Antonio to the Texans during the Siege of Bexar, Mexican General Santa Anna determined to retake this key location and at the same time impress upon the Texans the futility of further resistance to Mexican rule. The arrival of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his army nearly caught the volunteers by surprise. Nonetheless, the Texans and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together and they did for thirteen long days against Santa Anna’s army. The commander of the Alamo was Colonel William B. Travis. He sent out couriers to communities in Texas pleading for help. On the eighth day of the siege, a small gathering of thirty-two volunteers arrived from Gonzales, bringing the total number to nearly two hundred. These freedom fighters knew that the Alamo was essential to the defense of Texas and they were ready to die rather than surrender to the Mexican army. As legend goes, Colonel Travis drew a l...

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Paper

In the world that Betty Smith describes in â€Å"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn† however, this poverty is depicted as a kind of virtue, a force that causes individuals to grow, and families to bond c. Yet, while female characters like Katie and Francie grow from overcoming the hardships brought on by poverty, Francie’s father Johnny Nolan is defeated by it and ends up dying of alcoholism. In the 1900’s, gender roles and social expectations of men and women were more rigid than today, and both sexes were supposed to stay within gender boundaries d. In telling the story of Katie and Johnny Nolan, Betty Smith reveals how often times immigrant women like Katie, who went against gender stereotypes, survived and grew from the hardships of poverty, while men like Johnny, who tried to fulfill their gender role, were defeated by it. II. 1ST Body paragraph a. In the beginning of the novel, he has found a job, but it is as a low paying waiter and unstable. Even so, he dresses with style, is handsome, and seems content being a singing waiter. He is able to bring home money to his wife, Katie. His daughter, Francie always helps him get his bow tie on and he calls her â€Å"pre-Madonna,† then she eagerly awaits his return with her brother Neely, for he always bring back treats like caviar and oysters. They are a happy family. However, Johnny loses his job and his family becomes more and more hungry, but he can’t help them. He can’t find another job i. In the early 1900’s, men were supposed to provide for their family, but as Johnny Nolan illustrates, this was hard for immigrant men. ii. Perhaps not being in control and not being able to bring home money to his family makes him feel like a waste and a failure, for as the story goes on, he drinks more and more until he dies of alcoholism. Katie tries to help her husband, â€Å"She told him it was a good thing, that suffering would harden him, would teach him such a lesson that he’d stop drinking. But poor Johnny just wouldn’t harden. † (P. 98) iii. Johnny grew up with the gender stereotype of the man of the house being the â€Å"breadwinner†, and in the Irish American community in Brooklyn, he cannot fulfill this role. III. 2ND Body paragraph i. Yet, Katie has no choice and even though the cleaning job she finds does not pay well, she goes out to work ii. In contrast, Katie, Francie’s mother, is able to overcome poverty because she breaks down the gender stereotypes of what a married woman should do in her time; Katie goes out of the house to work. At that time, were expected to stay home and be cared for while caring for the children iii. Yet, Katie has no choice and even though the cleaning job she finds does not pay well, she goes out to work. Thus, as she faces poverty, we see Katie rise to the challenge by being flexible. In contrast to Johnny, she is able to experience poverty as a learning experience and change. At one point she says to passersby, â€Å"Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It’s growing out of sour earth. And it’s strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way. † IV. 3RD Body paragraph a. Johnny and Katie Nolan, exemplify a theme of gender difference in the overcoming of poverty for immigrants i. Katie is flexible and able to adapt, so she eventually obtains a better life. She does not stay within her gender role of remaining in the house, but goes out to work. In contrast, Johnny is unable to be as flexible and his stubbornness in keeping within his gender role and his own idea of his responsibility to his family eventually destroys him ii. Betty Smith does not judge Johnny in her novel, but rather portrays him as a sympathetic and highly likeable, but he is a conflicted and ultimately tragic character. V. Conclusion paragraph a. In the patriarchal society of the early 1900’s that Betty Smith describes in her book â€Å"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn†, it would seem logical if women did not fair as well as men in times of difficulty. After all women had fewer rights. They could not vote or get the same wages as men i. By going against gender stereotypes, Katie is able to persevere and overcome poverty, while her husband, Johnny Nolan, who tries to follow them, is defeated iii. In 2012 many women have broken gender boundaries; Hilary Clinton is Secretary of state, Lady Gaga and Beyonce are millionaires and international pop stars. Men too have broken out of gender stereotypes for it is socially acceptable for men to work at home and even earn less than women. In â€Å"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, â€Å" however, Betty Smith captures a world, gone now, in which strict gender roles defined a person’s life. But for immigrants, trying to make a start in America, the need to adapt and go against these gender roles was critical. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Paper In the world that Betty Smith describes in â€Å"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn† however, this poverty is depicted as a kind of virtue, a force that causes individuals to grow, and families to bond c. Yet, while female characters like Katie and Francie grow from overcoming the hardships brought on by poverty, Francie’s father Johnny Nolan is defeated by it and ends up dying of alcoholism. In the 1900’s, gender roles and social expectations of men and women were more rigid than today, and both sexes were supposed to stay within gender boundaries d. In telling the story of Katie and Johnny Nolan, Betty Smith reveals how often times immigrant women like Katie, who went against gender stereotypes, survived and grew from the hardships of poverty, while men like Johnny, who tried to fulfill their gender role, were defeated by it. II. 1ST Body paragraph a. In the beginning of the novel, he has found a job, but it is as a low paying waiter and unstable. Even so, he dresses with style, is handsome, and seems content being a singing waiter. He is able to bring home money to his wife, Katie. His daughter, Francie always helps him get his bow tie on and he calls her â€Å"pre-Madonna,† then she eagerly awaits his return with her brother Neely, for he always bring back treats like caviar and oysters. They are a happy family. However, Johnny loses his job and his family becomes more and more hungry, but he can’t help them. He can’t find another job i. In the early 1900’s, men were supposed to provide for their family, but as Johnny Nolan illustrates, this was hard for immigrant men. ii. Perhaps not being in control and not being able to bring home money to his family makes him feel like a waste and a failure, for as the story goes on, he drinks more and more until he dies of alcoholism. Katie tries to help her husband, â€Å"She told him it was a good thing, that suffering would harden him, would teach him such a lesson that he’d stop drinking. But poor Johnny just wouldn’t harden. † (P. 98) iii. Johnny grew up with the gender stereotype of the man of the house being the â€Å"breadwinner†, and in the Irish American community in Brooklyn, he cannot fulfill this role. III. 2ND Body paragraph i. Yet, Katie has no choice and even though the cleaning job she finds does not pay well, she goes out to work ii. In contrast, Katie, Francie’s mother, is able to overcome poverty because she breaks down the gender stereotypes of what a married woman should do in her time; Katie goes out of the house to work. At that time, were expected to stay home and be cared for while caring for the children iii. Yet, Katie has no choice and even though the cleaning job she finds does not pay well, she goes out to work. Thus, as she faces poverty, we see Katie rise to the challenge by being flexible. In contrast to Johnny, she is able to experience poverty as a learning experience and change. At one point she says to passersby, â€Å"Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It’s growing out of sour earth. And it’s strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way. † IV. 3RD Body paragraph a. Johnny and Katie Nolan, exemplify a theme of gender difference in the overcoming of poverty for immigrants i. Katie is flexible and able to adapt, so she eventually obtains a better life. She does not stay within her gender role of remaining in the house, but goes out to work. In contrast, Johnny is unable to be as flexible and his stubbornness in keeping within his gender role and his own idea of his responsibility to his family eventually destroys him ii. Betty Smith does not judge Johnny in her novel, but rather portrays him as a sympathetic and highly likeable, but he is a conflicted and ultimately tragic character. V. Conclusion paragraph a. In the patriarchal society of the early 1900’s that Betty Smith describes in her book â€Å"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn†, it would seem logical if women did not fair as well as men in times of difficulty. After all women had fewer rights. They could not vote or get the same wages as men i. By going against gender stereotypes, Katie is able to persevere and overcome poverty, while her husband, Johnny Nolan, who tries to follow them, is defeated iii. In 2012 many women have broken gender boundaries; Hilary Clinton is Secretary of state, Lady Gaga and Beyonce are millionaires and international pop stars. Men too have broken out of gender stereotypes for it is socially acceptable for men to work at home and even earn less than women. In â€Å"A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, â€Å" however, Betty Smith captures a world, gone now, in which strict gender roles defined a person’s life. But for immigrants, trying to make a start in America, the need to adapt and go against these gender roles was critical.

Illegal Immigration & US Economy Research Paper

Illegal Immigration & US Economy - Research Paper Example Two third of legal immigrants - that is, 50 percent to 70 percent of current total immigrant inflow - are not likely to undergo civic inspection. In accordance with the general assumption of people, legal immigrants have a positive effect on nation’s economy whereas illegal immigrants have negative effect. Irrespective of the differences in the legislative body, majority of individuals believe that United States economic welfare will improve only if the number of illegal immigrants decreased. From an entirely economic point of view, the best immigration strategy would admit those whose talents are in shortest supply and whose tax inputs are as large as achievable. United States can get the maximum possible raise in revenues by hiring immigrants in scarce professions, irrespective of their skill level. In the United States, scarce employees would incorporate not just highly learned persons, for instance, the computer programmers and engineers employed by quickly growing technology industries, but also low-skilled employees in manufacturing, groceries preparation, and cleaning services, for which the supply of U.S. local labor has been declining. In either case, the national manual labor market for these recruits is rigid, in the sense that U.S. incomes for these professions are high as compared to incomes abroad (Chomsky, p. 109). Illegal immigration has apparent flaws. The constant increase in number of illegal immigrants can become a threat for the state of law and can also deteriorate the government’s capability to impose laws on labor market. ... From an entirely economic point of view, the best immigration strategy would admit those whose talents are in shortest supply and whose tax inputs are as large as achievable. United States can get the maximum possible raise in revenues by hiring immigrants in scarce professions, irrespective of their skill level. In the United States, scarce employees would incorporate not just highly learned persons, for instance, the computer programmers and engineers employed by quickly growing technology industries, but also low-skilled employees in manufacturing, groceries preparation, and cleaning services, for which the supply of U.S. local labor has been declining. In either case, the national manual labor market for these recruits is rigid, in the sense that U.S. incomes for these professions are high as compared to incomes abroad (Chomsky, p. 109). Illegal immigration has apparent flaws. The constant increase in number of illegal immigrants can become a threat for the state of law and can a lso deteriorate the government’s capability to impose laws on labor market. This increase in number also place United States at the higher risk of terrorism, even though no illegal immigrant is ever charged for terrorist activity. Huge inflows of illegal foreigners also lighten up the dedication of employers to U.S. labor market associations and form a population of employees with restricted upward mobility in addition to a doubtful place in U.S. society. There are several reasons to be worried about increasing levels of illegal immigration. Yet, it is important not to lose sight of the reality that illegal immigration has an apparent economic sense. It gives U.S. companies the types of human resources they would like to have. If