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Q: In the original experiment participants thought the study was about what in the obedience study?
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Continue Learning about Psychology

What school of thought asked participants to report sensations they were experiencing?

structuralism


What are the advantages of a thought experiment?

A thought experiment isn't an experiment really, so does not compete with physical experiments. It is more of one way scientists explore ideas with each other by posing hypothetical situations. The advantage of that is that it is free to do, the only equipment it requires is a mind, and even the most impossible experiments can be proposed. e.g. "What would happen if Saturn were moved to Mar's orbit?"


What were the negative effects experienced by participants in the Zimbardo prison experiment?

The American educational network PBS did an excellent series in 2001 called "Discovering Psychology," and in episodes 19-20, it addressed such things as the psychological effect the situation can have upon how human beings act. In one segment, it discussed the 1971 Prison experiment, with Dr. Zimbardo (host of the series) looking back on it. It also showed a follow up, where students (both the "guards" and the "prisoners") met after a few months and talked about their feelings regarding the experiment. It is clear from that segment that the participants were still upset. The "prisoners" were shocked that classmates they thought they knew were willing to treat them so brutally, and the "guards" were still embarrassed that they had gotten so caught up in the role that they acted in such an inhumane manner. Even Dr. Zimbardo noted that he too had become caught up in his role of the "warden," and his reaction surprised him. Although he was a trained psychologist, he admitted he had lost perspective and found himself thinking like a prison warden. That was one reason he called off the experiment-- the realization that it does not take much (in this case, some isolation, uniforms, and arbitrary hierarchies of power) to make otherwise decent people behave in unethical or cruel ways.


What is a 'thought experiment'?

The first line of the included link provides clues to the usefulness of imagination and how it shapes both how we learn and epiphany. Thought experiments are devices of the imagination used to investigate the nature of things. Everyone is capable of contributing through their own insight into "using your head is the key to solving anything" as expounded by the online think tank at the Hedtke Institute.


How is obeying hard?

Humans have independent thought of actions with conviction that it is the best possible solution in egoistic will, and therefore cannot accept directions of others. Obeying requires not only a willful surrender and acceptance of others direction and orders with servitude and humility, but also discipline and obedience to become subordinates. This becomes very difficult to accept for a very proud human being.