The Stanford Prison Experiment was definitely out there. I would have to say that from what I saw in the short video that I do not think the experiment was ethical. While the experiment may have been by choice the extreme consequences and feelings could not have been portrayed when asking for participation. Obviously if the consequences could have been shared there would have been no need for the actual experiment, I understand that, but the immense pressure that must have been felt once the experiment started and the complete loss of self are worrisome. The fact that these students lost focus of who they were and had complete personality changes is astounding, and while not foreseen a change like that is unethical to make to someone's personality. Another indicator to me that the experiment was unethical was the amount of time it lasted, instead of lasting the full two weeks it only lasted six days, proof of the severe strain and emotional pain these people were going through.
What I found interesting was that not only did the "inmates" experience personality changes but the "guards" who were there for a fraction of the time did as well. This to me helps to prove the point that humanity is generally good until outside forces act upon someone. The extreme changes the "guards" went through from being nice and polite equals to power hungry and cruel superiors is alarming, to me it shows that under outside influence people become bad which is not how they may actually be in regular day to day uninterrupted life.
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