Seminar 4
"Seminar task –Zimbardo"
Watch this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEotwCGwI2E
Write a brief summary (0.5 page) that addresses the following question:
What points in the video interested you the most, and why?
Place your summary in the homework vault.
(voluntary Orbituary of Philip Zimbardo who passed away October 14th https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/10/philip-zimbardo-the-psychologist-behind-stanford-prison-experiment-dies-at-age-91)
A few notes on the activities design of the seminar:
Since this was my first time introducing the topic of power in the seminar, I underestimated the time it would take to search for and discuss codes of ethics. While I consider it important for people to know what these documents look like in their own countries, these texts are often long and difficult to process. Even the "10 Czech Commandments" took a significant amount of time.
However, I found it extremely valuable that we scratched the surface of teachers' possibilities, or rather perceived lack thereof, in the area of safety in countries experiencing war or military coups, and the issue of bullying occurring out of sight. I believe the group is on a good path to engage in a dialogue following the question "When did you feel powerless?"
To improve the seminar, it would be advisable to move the code of ethics to a homework section, such as "Find and insert a link to the Code of Ethics in your country."
Given more time, we would have been able to revisit Zimbardo's video about social processes that can bring out the worst in people. We would then have proceeded with an exercise that would allow us to apply inspirational ethical behavior to a lesson plan. At this point, I wonder if, without this activity, the assignment you did might feel like a dead end.
For those interested, I've added a lesson plan form. I believe you will encounter more detailed versions of this in your further education.
Aditional and voluntary material (thank you Milan...):
The Stanford Prison Experiment, once hailed as a groundbreaking study on the psychology of power and obedience, has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. This experiment, along with others, has been caught up in the broader "replication crisis" in psychology, where many classic studies have been challenged for their methodology, ethics, and the validity of their conclusions.
The experiment has been criticized for its lack of informed consent, the potential for psychological harm to participants, and the absence of clear termination criteria. Critics argue that the experiment's design was flawed, with issues such as demand characteristics (i.e. scripting "guards" into oppresive behavior), experimenter bias, and a lack of a control group.
The experiment has often been misrepresented in popular culture, leading to misunderstandings about the nature of human behavior and the causes of abusive behavior.