Ordinary People Journal

The Stanford Prison Experiment is one of the experiments that demonstrate some of the determinants of human behavior. The outcomes of the experiment were able to denote how situational power can influence people’s behaviors, values, and attitudes (Bartels, 2019). People’s internal dispositions can determine how they behave positively or negatively. There are various factors that can direct or influence human behavior. Genes, temperament, and personality traits all play a role in determining how a person is likely to behave in a specific situation. One of the things I learned from this experiment is that good people can be turned into evil perpetrators. Subsequently, people who are healthy can start to have pathological reactions that can be traced to situational forces.

The Psychology of Evil is another experiment that demonstrates how people’s behavior can change when exposed to some influence or power. One of the main findings of this study is that people can become evil or cruel when given power (Kets de Vries, 2021). That means that human behavior can change based on their situation. Good people can turn into monsters due to the power they wield at a particular time. Therefore, I believe that a good or evil man is shaped by their current circumstances. The situation of a person plays a significant role in defining their behavior and actions. People are exposed as being evil and lacking in empathy due to their inability to help in situations where individuals need help.

Bystander Effect is another case that showcases human nature. This study demonstrates that people are less likely to help others if there are other individuals around. People always want to diffuse responsibilities, especially when there are others around (Hortensius & de Gelder, 2018). One of the things I believe the case showcases is the fact that human beings do not like to be involved or take responsibility because they believe another person should play a specific role. However, such a behavior or attitude can have negative implications for the well-being of a person, especially when faced with an emergency situation.

References

Bartels, J. (2019). Revisiting the Stanford prison experiment, again: Examining demand

characteristics in the guard orientation. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(6), 780–790. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2019.1596058

Hortensius, R., & de Gelder, B. (2018). From Empathy to Apathy: The Bystander Effect

Revisited. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(4), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417749653

Kets de Vries, M. (2021). The Psychology of Evil: Reality and Imagination. SSRN Electronic

Journal, 47. 10.2139/ssrn.3918344.