A Microscopic View of ‘The Experiment’

Jeremae S. Ventar
Predators attack their prey. Mammals wrestle with one another. A person is being
dragged. Another man is kicked. Another man is being hit. And so on. These series of scenes
depict that the movie will involve violence. ‘The Experiment’ shows that in this world, power
relationships exist between those who are given power and those who are weaker and deprived.
It also how social situation such as roles, rules and settings can affect the human behavior and
how the experiment itself could affect the lives of its subjects.
Degree of Assurance and Non-adherence
Wanted: Subject. $1000 per day. Safe.
Only Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg will have no thoughts in participating in a
behavioral experiment which pays $1000 per day. The rest of the world will be more than
willing. ‘Coz dude, this ain’t just instant money. This is also very safety – like what they say.
Twenty-six men were interested to participate. Some of them joined because they wanted
to have “cash dollars” or an “honest buck”. Some need cash to “pay for the rent” and for
a“pussy worth 14 grand.” But what may also seem to make them decide to continue with the
experiment was not solely because they needed money but also because they were assured that
their safety will be the number one priority.
“… the actual experiment will be conducted in an utterly secure environment and the
participants will be safe at all times; some of the subjects will be deprived of their civil rights...”
The Preamble of the American Psychological Association (APA) states that psychologists
respect and protect civil and human rights. Based on the aforementioned statement, the
psychologist conducting the experiment, Dr. John Archalata, contradicted the Preamble of
psychologists since civil rights will be deprived for some of the subjects of his experiment.
However, even though the men were aware that they will be deprived of their civil rights,
none of them was bothered. Why? First, they were assured several times that they will be safe
during the conduct of the experiment. Second, the procedures and the potential risks that might
happen were not explicitly discussed prior to the actual experiment. As shown in the movie, the
procedures, rules and conditions were only given after they went inside the penitentiary. Dr.
Archalata might have thought that if he discussed the procedures, rules, conditions, and the
potential risks before the experiment, some of them might withdraw from participating.
According to Ethical Standards, Standard 8.02 of the APA, psychologists, when
conducting an experiment, should ensure that individuals are voluntarily participating in the
research with full knowledge of relevant risks and benefits. The person must have all of the
information that might reasonably influence their willingness to participate in a form that they
can understand and comprehend. Psychologists, hence, should inform participants about the
purpose of the experiment, procedures, expected duration, potential risks or adverse effects and
other necessary information.
Also, within the said ethical standard, it was mentioned that participants should have the
rights to decline to participate and to withdraw from the research once it has started. In the
movie, the participants were clearly denied of their right to withdraw. Before the experiment
started, Archalata said: “If you wanna leave, now is your last chance”. This implies that
participants are not allowed to quit. Well, they can withdraw but they will not get paid if the
experiment will be terminated. “If you fail to do so, that red light will come on, the experiment
will be terminated, and you will not get paid. You either maintain strict order, or you don't get
paid.”
 Even before the behavioral experiment started, it was already violating the ethical
standards and code of conduct of psychologists. The 26 men were persuaded into participating
because they believed that they will be paid. Since the 26 men participated without full
knowledge of what is going to happen, the potential risks attached into the experiment, and even
their rights as subjects of the experiment, there was a deception involved in order to achieve the
aims of the experiment.
The Root of Violence
“Those that break the rules must be punished commensurately.” This statement implies
that the rules inside the penitentiary are the ones that govern the behavior of the subjects in the
experiment. As depicted in the movie, the guards showed violent behavior towards the prisoners
since the rules should be strictly followed or the experiment will be terminated.
Rules are being governed because the subjects have to meet their instrumental goal – to
get paid $14000 in just two weeks. For the instrumental goal to be achieved, violence became an
assurance that prisoners will follow their own set of rules. It also became a proof that the guards
respond commensurately.
On the other hand, the movie proves that human behavior adapts on social situation. One
of the guards said: “I'm a reasonable man. I'm not the monster that you somehow conjured up in
your head. I've been given a position, didn't ask for it. In some ways it would've been easier if I
was just a prisoner. Like you.” This tells that the guards were violent because they were given a
position in which they can choose a disciplinary punishment for those who broke the rules. It
also implies that if the prisoners will be given a chance to become the guards, they will also do
what the guards should be doing.
According to Allyn and Bacon (2007), people usually adapt their behavior to the demands
of the social situation. In the movie, since the subjects were put in a simulation of a penitentiary,
the subjects were demanded to act as guards and prisoners. This has affected how the subjects
perceived themselves based on the roles assigned to them. The roles determined how they should
think, act and behave. This implies that people adapt the expected behavior based on social
situation. Also, since cameras were installed, subjects were more likely to act to the expected
behavior of their roles. They were aware that someone was watching them behind those cameras.
Hence, violence is being committed since the expected behavior of guards was needed to meet
the demands of social situation or of their environment.
However, since the experiment involved violence, it violated the Ethical Standard 3.04
which states that psychologists take responsible steps to avoid harming their research participants
and others whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.
Before the experiment started, Dr. Alchatra guaranteed the safety of the subjects. He said:
“If there is any violence, any at all, the experiment will be immediately terminated.” However,
even though the prisoners were already receiving violent acts, the experiment still continued. The
psychologist never intervened to avoid harm or to protect the civil and human rights of the
subjects. The experiment was not terminated until someone died and the prisoners and guards
were already attempting to kill each other.
***
The movie leaves us a question worth pondering: What will happen to the men after the
experiment? The experiment should not have been conducted in the first place since the
psychologist is being ignorant of the ethical standards and code of conduct. He did not even
think of the possible implications that may affect the lives of the subjects … They all lied down
on the ground as if they are all defeated. A bus is approaching towards them. The bus stops.
They all get in with bruises and stains of blood…He is holding the money worth of his dignity,
civil rights, and cost of the traumatic experience that he will bear for the rest of his life…

References:

Allyn & Bacon, (2007). Retrieved from

https://schspsychology.wikispaces.com/file/view/Social+Psychology+2011.pptx.

American Psychological Association. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010).
Washington D.C.