Joraen S.

Talamor 2014-77158 Psychology 10 – 2

Guinea Pigs of Violence

My initial reaction to the movie was excitement. That fact that it was not in the list of movie genres I would
usually watch spiked my curiosity.

The story started with the segregation of the volunteers for a psychological study, where they were divided
into groups and act as either the 20 prisoners or the 6 prison guards. By this time, I already had my doubts on the
doctor conducting the study. As what I’ve read in various plot summaries, the movie was based on the infamous
‘Stanford Prison Experiment’, which was an attempt to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power,
focusing on the struggle between prisoners and prison guards. It introduced me to the possibility that tyrannous
people would be the perfect specimens in such experiment. Basic rules were established in the makeshift cell:
‘prisoners must eat and fully consume 3 meals a day; there will be 30 minutes of recreational activities daily; and
prisoners must remain within their designated areas’. The 6 prison guards were given the authority to ensure that the
prisoners obey the rules. What made the whole thing exciting is the prize money after the 2-week study, which
amounted to $14,000, for each of the participants but, according to the doctor, the experiment was to be terminated
upon the first sign of violence or the quitting of a participant. In all honesty, as a person who has grown accustomed
to pain and slightly numb towards human emotions, or ‘manhid’ as all of my friends refer to me, I would gladly take
the challenge. Well, this was what I thought during the first parts of the movie anyway.

By the time the guards started being forceful with the prisoners, especially the main character, Travis, my
blood started to boil. That was when I realized I was never going to get that prize money if I were one of the
volunteers. I saluted Travis for his patience and for his compassion with his co-prisoners. As I said, I am a ‘manhid’
person, but bullying (or any other issues aligned with it) makes me burst into flames easily, and, surprising as it may
seem, I’m also an empathetic person. The scene where the guards started mistreating Travis and his cellmate, Benjy,
just did it for me. I was starting to clench and unclench my fist, and the next scenes made my frustration worsen. I
had no idea how Travis kept cool during all those parts but he did. If only I knew how to shed my own tears in
public, I would be bawling my eyes out at the sight of Benjy twitching on the floor after the motherfu--- guard hit
him on the head and during his slow death. With this, the first part of the movie came back into my mind and I was
thinking, “Is this not violence? How much more violence do the researchers want to see in order for the experiment
to stop? Is the doctor possibly a Schadenfreude? How sick can this movie get?” By the time the prisoners were
starting a riot and the assh— guard cut his own hand, I was glaring at the screen and kept wishing for all the guards
to die in the hands of those poor, suffering prisoners. I was only able to release a sigh of relief when a siren alarmed
throughout the building, knowing that the 2 weeks were up.

My thoughts had me distracted by the time an announcement was made where the doctor was to be
imprisoned for manslaughter. I started to envision the people around me in such a situation. My classmates and I
barely know each other but being part of such an experiment would probably make us hate each other. The
experiment brought out the violence in each of the participants, even in those who are most innocent and most
patient. In Travis’ defence, he only released his violent side the moment he realized it was their last resort. Their
lives were in danger in the hands of the guards and even I can’t handle seeing the death of another person, not caring
if we were close or not. Then I realized, the prize money would not be worth all the effort, the pain, and the
suffering if, after the experiment, you’re only going to spend it to cure yourself from the trauma of the experiment.
Pent-up frustrations could result into the worst kind of violence if triggered and no human being could avoid the
release of violence, not even Travis, whom I looked up to for his utmost patience, perseverance, and compassion.
In context, I would not suggest anyone to conduct this experiment. Not only would it make a person physically
injured, but also mentally and emotionally disoriented, which is the worst kind of disease imaginable.