Watch out Big Brother! (Experiment, The)

Member Name: alirigby

Product:	Experiment, The
Date:	16/05/02 (660 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting

Disadvantages: Wimpy Guards

‘The Experiment’ is a fascinating ‘fly on the wall’ that has recently started on BBC2 (Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9pm-10pm).

Background:
Small ads appeared in the press last year appealing for male volunteers to join in a "university-backed social science experiment to be shown on TV", no money was offered, and there was no suggestion that participation would lead to fame, the advert did warn of exercise, tasks, hardship, hunger, boredom, solitude and anger: applicants were not aware that this was the BBC’s attempt to recreate the infamous 1971 Stanford experiment.
In 1971, Philip Zimbardo, conducted a prison experiment where volunteers were divided into prisoners and guards in a dramatic simulation of prison life in order to examine human reactions to power, oppression and institutionalisation; this experiment was stopped prematurely due to the tyranny and brutality of the guards. Considering Zimbardo himself said that this experiment is unethical and should never be repeated due to the potential psychological damage to the participants, it is curious that the BBC undertook this responsibility with the view to turning it into entertainment.

The Situation:
15 volunteers were selected to take on the roles of prisoners and guards for ten days (5 guards and 10 prisoners), they are put into a purpose-built "prison" at Elstree studios in Hertfordshire and monitored by psychologists 24 hours a day.
The ‘prison’ is hot and lit by harsh fluorescent lights; there are up to 3 men in a cell which is small and uncomfortable. The food fed to the ‘prisoners’ is barely edible; badly cooked, the cheapest products and very small portions, the guards get sumptuous meals to further enforce the difference in status. There are hidden cameras and microphones throughout the ‘prison’ which gives it an air of ‘Big Brother’; in face I think it’s more in
teresting than BB.
The prisoners are given numbers and assigned to cells, they are allowed out for meals, 2 hours of chores and some leisure time. At the start there are no privileges allowed; although the guards soften on this one!
There are a number of rules which the volunteers must adhere to; no aggression or violence will be tolerated.

The Volunteers:
The Guards:
Frankie Caruana: 36, ex-nurse now a BT trainee.
Thomas McElroy: 24, firefighter.
Brendan Grennan: 53, Maintenance engineer
Thufayel Ahmed: 36, driving instructor
Tom Quarry: 34, business managing director

The Prisoners:
Kevin Murray: 22, Office Worker
John Edwards: 38, Team Manager
Glen Payton: 32, Security director,
Frank Clark: 27, Tree Surgeon
Neil Perry: 26, Interior designer
Philip Bimpson: 46, MOT test centre owner
Ian Burnett: 22, IT Support
Derek McCabe: 50, Retired senior trade unionist
Dave Dawson: 34, IT
Paul Petken: 30, Builder

So far…
Based on the previous experiment, it was assumed that, once again, the guards would dominate and flaunt their power; the prisoners submitting.
This, so far, has not been the case at all, in fact the guards seem to be barely holding onto control whilst being humiliated and domineered by the prisoners. What is apparent is the feeling of revolution and rebellion and the prisoners’ resistance to authority; maybe a reflection of more modern times?
Most of the prisoners are very well aware of what is being studied and why they are there; in the first episode Bimpson made reference to Orwell’s Animal Farm and frequently talks about how they are reacting and why.
The guards have done quite the opposite of abusing their power and seem reluctant to use it; more willing to make deals and compromise than have to deal with confrontation and aggression. In fact one of the guards, Quarry has even talked of total equality as a community s
aying ‘It doesn’t have to be like this’ and alluding to previous, failed communist regimes.
The psychologists running the experiments can do things to ‘rock the boat’ a bit; on the first day the prisoners were told that one of them could be promoted to a guard (to see how their behaviour would differ in achieving this goal) and it was up to the guards to choose. The psychologists were hoping a strong prisoner would be chosen to be a leader for the guards, however they picked the guy most similar in character to themselves and therefore quite submissive. In the last episode a new prisoner was introduced - McCabe; he was a Geordie Trade Union official and deliberately planted to give the prisoners some direction and an idea of how to move forward through communication and negotiation, he was quickly adopted as a leader figure. During his short stay in the prison, another prisoner stole the guards’ master keys, McCabe then used these as a bargaining tool with which he negotiated hot drinks, showers and a daily meeting from the guards. The new prisoner was then removed from the experiment so we can see if the original guys follow his lead.
The most prominent prisoners so far are Petken who seems intent on causing trouble and constantly wants a ciggie, McCabe (now removed), Bimpson who’s quite keen on leading the group and gaining power and Edwards who wanted to be promoted on the first day, but having not been is keen on causing mayhem!
The sternest guard appears to be Grennan, an older guy he seems to be able to keep control, however he still gave into the prisoners demands at the meeting. Quarry is constantly taunted by the prisoners ,especially Petken, and prefers to make deals with the prisoners rather than have to assert himself with them. Ahmed seems to be the only guy with the right idea; to enforce discipline before the prisoners start controlling the guards.
There are 2 programmes left to go (on 21
& 22nd May) so it remains to be seen if the tables are turned and power is regained and exploited by the guards – somehow I doubt it (they need to look after their keys for a start!).

Conclusion:
I have enjoyed the first two episodes, I had to think for a while if I felt it was ethical, but all participants are volunteers and could leave the experiment if they wanted to. Although they were not aware of the exact situation that they would be in I think that they were given a pretty good idea that it would be unpleasant and uncomfortable.
As I’ve said before, I always get drawn into these reality programmes; at least this one has a scientific background and purpose and is exploring a side of human psychology rather than just exploiting it.
It may make uncomfortable viewing; I may be a bit warped as I found much of it very amusing!


For More Info:
The BBC Website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/theexperiment

For information on the original 1971 experiment:
http://www.prisonexp.org

Professor Philip G. Zimbardo
http://www.zimbardo.com/

Summary: