View
6.196
Download
2
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Lord of the Flies – From a Different Perspective
Psychological Tests on Aggression & Authority
Osborn HungJason Hsu
Jacqueline LeungHank Yew
Key Terms:
The Robbers Cave Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Milgram’s Experiment
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Muzafer Sherif et al (1954)
The Robbers Cave Experiment Experiment on intergroup conflict
and co-operation Interdisciplinary “psychological” and
“sociological” Test on intergroup relations
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Hypotheses tested:1. Individuals with no established
relationships, but brought together with common goal, would produce a group structure with hierarchical statuses and roles within it.
2. Two groups, with a functional relationship, came under the condition of competition, negative attitudes and hostile actions towards the out-group members would arise
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Setting of the experiment: 24 boys of about 12 years of age Similar, settled, lower-middle class
Protestant Well-adjusted psychologically Of normal physical development In the same year of schooling
The Robbers Cave Experiment
1st stage: In-Group Formation Individuals were selected and divided
into two groups randomly Balancing the physical, mental, and
social talents
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Jack created two tribes According to different strength,
abilities, beliefs, and responsibilities› “The choir belongs to you, of course. They
could be army, or hunters.” (Golden 19)
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Ralph’s tribe Jack’s tribeWant(s) •To be rescued
•Go back home•Hunt •Fulfill own desires (eat meat)•Being protected from the beast
Responsibility •Build shelters•Protect littluns
•Hunt•Keep the signal fire
Civilization / Savagery
Civilization Savagery
The Robbers Cave Experiment Promote group cohesion and
cooperation Two groups worked together to fulfill
the basic needs of all boys Positive attitudes with their in-group
members (as they had similar thinking and beliefs)
The Robbers Cave Experiment
2nd stage: Friction phase Two groups were bring into
competition Imply frustration in group relations Disrespect actions would occur Name-calling, razzing back and forth.
And singing of derogatory songs
The Robbers Cave ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Jack were competing about the belief
of civilization and savagery Compete for honor, authority, and followers Jack persuaded the boys to follow him, as he
could protect him from the beast Ralph and Piggy claimed that there was no
beast, it was just the fear in their heart› “I gave you food, and my hunters will protect you
from the beast. Who will join my tribe?”(Golden 166)› “I’m chief, because you chose me. And we were
going to keep the fire going. Now you run after food – “ (Golden 166)
The Robbers Cave Experiment Negative attitude towards out-group
members:› Jack: being rude and name-calling towards
Piggy› “Shut up, Fatty.” (Golden 17)› “His specs – use them as burning
glasses!”(Golden 40)
The Robbers Cave Experiment
3rd stage: Integration phase Two groups had a series of contact
situations Tension would be decreased Attainment is beyond the resources
and efforts of one group alone
The Robbers Cave Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Negative integration Jack successfully persuade most of
the boys to become relatively more savage
In order to eat meat, and get protection from the beast, the boys joined Jack’s tribe
The Robbers Cave Experiment Tension between the two tribes decreased, as
they had common belief – savagery United Actions: Use the signal fire to roast the hunted pig
› “Piggy and Ralph, under the treat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society.” (Golden 167)
Killed Simon› “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him
in!” (Golden 168)› “There was no words, and no movements but the
tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golden 169) Wanted to kill Ralph
› “They had smoked him out and set the island on fire.” (Golden 219)
The Robbers Cave Experiment Even Ralph and Piggy stepped towards
to become savagery Gave up the signal fire – gave up the
civilized part in their heart Tension decreased Common thinking and beliefs –
Savagery Not contributive, positive, and morally
right
The Robbers Cave Experiment Conclusion:1. Individual difference
› Rise of inter-group conflict› Divide into two groups according to interests,
beliefs, and abilities
2. Competition between two groups› Hostile and aggressive attitudes toward the
out-group
3. Contact with the other group› Reduce negative attitudes toward the other
group › Super-ordinate goal and united cooperative
action can reduce friction between groups
Stanford Prison Experiment
Martvn Shuttleworth (2008)
Stanford Prison Experiment
Degeneration and breakdown of the established rules and morals
Dictate how people should behave towards each other
About the amorality and darkness that inhabits the human psyche.
Failure Gave an insight into human psychology
and social behavior
Stanford Prison ExperimentSetting of the experiment: 24 physical Mental health Emotional stabilityStudents were divided into two teams
› one group posing as prison guards› another group posing as prisoner
15 days long Ends at the sixth day because of the
injuries and some experimenters quit the test
Stanford Prison ExperimentResult of the experiment: Degenerated very quickly The dark and inhuman side of human
nature became apparent very quickly Suffer a wide array of humiliations and
punishments at the hands of the guards Many began to show signs of mental and
emotional distress› Prisoners organized a mass revolt and riot, as
a protest about the conditions› One third of the guards began to show an
extreme and imbedded streak of sadism
Stanford Prison Experiment
Same theme with Lord of the Flies: At first, the boys were not too
offensive to each other Characters soon became evil and
violence Forgot own beliefs (civilization) Showed their dark and savage side
Stanford Prison Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Jack At first, he was not able to kill a pig Soon, became more savagery Hunting became something exciting “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her
in.” (Golden 75)
Stanford Prison Experiment
After Jack got authority, his cruel personality showed more obviously
Torture the sow he hunted “He skewered the carcass, lifted the dead
weight, and stood ready. In the silence, and standing over the dry blood, they looked suddenly furtive.” (Golden 150)
Cruel Bloodlust
Stanford Prison Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies: No longer respect and care about
lives “’You want a real pig,’ said Robert, still
caressing his rump, ‘because you’ve got to kill him.’ ‘Use a littlun,’ said Jack” (Golden 126)
Selfish Self-centered
Stanford Prison ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies: Started to destroyed the rules they set
up Tended to break democratic rules Tried to make civilization thoughts to
disappear “We don’t need the conch anymore. We
know who ought to say things. It’s time some people know they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us – “(Golden 111)
Stanford Prison Experiment
Conclusion: Individuals’ personalities could be
swamped when they were given positions of authority
Individuals’ reactions to the specific needs of the situation rather than referring to their own internal morals or beliefs
Stanford Prison Experiment
However, Believe man’s nature at birth is good Conscience and education can
enhance our goodness Allow us to become better person Only under pressure and force, we
will tend to be savagery
Milgram’s ExperimentSaul McLeod (2007)
Milgram’s Experiment
This experiment reveals the majority of people are willing to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts that conflicted with their personal coincidence.
Lord of the flies is a typical example of obedience to authority, the boys are willing to go to almost any length on the command.
Milgram’s ExperimentExperiment: The experimenter (E) orders the teacher (T), the subject of the experiment, to give what the latter believes are painful electric shocks to a learner (L), who is actually an actor. The subject believes that for each wrong
answer, the learner will receive actual electric shocks, though in reality there were no such punishments
Milgram’s Experiment Students were separated from the subject Confederate set up a tape recorder
integrated with the electro-shock generator, which played pre-recorded sounds for each shock level
If the answer was incorrect, the teacher would administer a shock to the learner, with the voltage increasing in 15-volt increments for each wrong answer.
If correct, the teacher would read the next word pair.
Milgram’s Experiment When the subject attempted to quit
the experiment, the experimenter would tell the subject:1. Please continue.2. The experiment requires that you continue.3. It is absolutely essential that you continue.4. You have no other choice, you must go on.5. If the participant still want to quit after this
4 steps , they are allowed to quit Establish status and authority
Milgram’s ExperimentFactors that affect obedienceStatus of Location Personal Responsibility
Prestige of a location increases obedience
Less personal responsibility enables obedience to increases
Legitimacy of Authority Figure Status of Authority Figure
People tend to obey others from other people if they recognize their authority as morally right and / or legally based
The uniform of the authority figure can give them status
Peer Support Proximity of Authority Figure
The presence of others who are seen to disobey the authority figure reduces the level of obedience
It is easier to resist the orders from an authority figure if they are not close by
Milgram’s Experiment
Hypothesis: Only 0%- 3% of participant would be
prepared to inflict the max voltage
Result: 65% (26 of 40) of experiment participants
administered the final massive 450-volt shock under experimenter’s order
Milgram’s ExperimentResult of the Experiment: Deception
› the participants believed they were shocking a real person
Protection of participants› participants were exposed to extremely
stressful situations › potential to cause psychological harm
Milgram debrief the participants fully after the experiment and also followed up after a period of time to ensure that they came to no harm
Milgram’s Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies:1. During the feast , Jack sat like an idol
and leader , he issued commands “Who’s going to join my tribe?”
(Golden 215) Most of the boys accepted As the boys wanted meat, and
protection from the beast
Milgram’s ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies:2. Wilfred was punished by Jack with no
apparent reason , but Roger and rest of the boys of the tribe feel nothing about it
“I don’t know. He didn’t say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up. He’s been”—Robert giggled excitedly—“he’s been tied for hours, waiting—” (Golden 229)
None of the boys had courage to stand up for Wilfred
Fear of authority Gave up justice
Milgram’s Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies:3. Roger and Jack begin to torture Sam
and Eric, forcing them to submit to Jack’s authority and join his tribe.
Force the weak ones to follow them Violence action False use of authority
Milgram’s Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies:4. The evil tribe including Jack did not
make any disagreement with the officer when he assign Ralph as the leader and in charge
Under the officer, who is powerful, Jack did not have the courage to admit he took over most of the power
He did not admit he persuaded others to be savagery
Milgram’s Experiment
Analysis from Lord of the Flies:5. The civilized officer is part of an adult
world in which violence and war go hand in hand with civilization and social order
Obey the authority Do things to destroy world peace Similar to what the boys did
Milgram’s ExperimentCompare novel with the experiment: The boys were fear about the beast
(electronic shock) Allowed Jack to gain power (obedience) Control them and persuade them to be
savagery (obey the experimenters) Boys followed, so they could get
protection (not to get shocked) “We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast,
we hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat -!” (Golden 99)
Milgram’s Experiment
Conclusion: The legal and philosophic aspects of
obedience are of enormous import The extreme willingness of adults to go
to almost any lengths on the command of an authority constitutes the chief finding of the study and the fact most urgently demanding explanation
People with authority gets to control
Any Questions?
Recommended