Criminology Assignment 4-Stanford Prison Experiment Essay

Criminology Assignment 4-Stanford Prison Experiment - Essay Example They were to be compensated $ 15 for a period of less than two weeks. The volunteers were then randomly chosen to either play the role of the prison guard or the role of the prisoners. The prisoners were placed in a nine by six foot cell. There were three cells, one solitary cell, prison yard and other rooms were used by prison guards and the prison warden. Prisoners would remain in their prisons for 24 hours. Guards on the hand worked on eight hour shifts and could be allowed not allowed to go home. Phillip and his team were observed the behavior of the group using hidden microphones and cameras that were placed strategically. The prisoners were arrested normally and booked the way a normal suspect would be booked. They were then blindfolded and taken to the prison. They were given prison clothes and were referred to by their prison number at the back of their clothes. The guards on the other hand were given dark glasses to minimize eye contact with the prisoners. The guards would harass the prisoners and enjoy it. Prisoners were dehumanized and given boring tasks to accomplish. The prisoners were soon taking sides and telling tales on each other to the guards in order to win favors from the guards. The guards were in total control and held the prisoners in contempt. Prisoners became submissive. As time went by the guards became more aggressive and this forced the prisoners to be more submissive. After 36 hours one prisoner was released as he showed signs of early depression. Within the sixth day the experiment had to be closed down as Phillip feared the prisoners would be mentally or physically damaged. The purpose of the study was to show that abusive prison behavior was caused by inherent personality possessed by prisoners and guards. The experiment demonstrated the role that a powerful role plays in human behavior. When the guards were given powerful roles they found themselves behaving in ways that surprised them. They treated the

Scholarly Person in the US Government past or present Term Paper

Scholarly Person in the US Government past or present - Term Paper Example As a Missionary Alexander Crummell was an ordained missionary in Liberia (1853 – 1872) belonging to the Episcopal Church. His eventful life as a missionary spanned over twenty years there, once again he faced discrimination because of his race and background. His primary aim as a Christian minister was to ‘civilize’ the African race by encouraging them to embrace Christianity and replace their native customs, beliefs and religious practices they followed. Keeping this in mind Alexander Crummell founded the church and a school in Washington DC in a bid to bring about a revolutionary change among the African people. As a Religious Leader Alexander Crummell’s tryst with Africa had many dimensions to it. He believed that every race on the Earth had a purpose and so did the African race too. Crummell had unshakable belief of the divine purpose of the African race. His key concern was man’s march to perfection through civilization. ... His aim was to initiate the African people towards civilization by removing the scales of ignorance from their eyes and bringing them into the light of religious enlightenment. However, Crummell’s hopes and dreams for the Negro race were never reconciled or satisfied with his philosophy of ‘civilizationism’. As a Black Nationalist He is considered to be one of the most authoritative figures as far as Black Nationalism is concerned. Being a religious minister of the Episcopal Church he very strongly detested and protested against the ignorant subjugation of the Negro’s against their white counterparts and struggled hard to bring about a Black nationalistic change in the belief and attitudes of the Africans. Crummell’s common lament was â€Å"What the Negro needs is Civilization.† By civilization he did not mean the literal term of the word but a clear mind which is free from false heathen thoughts and beliefs. Civilization to him also meant per sonal responsibility, family development and social obligation to society. Crummell’s religious and puritanical ideologies of the human race and in particular for the Africans, served to pave the path for reshaping and reinventing of European racial theories creating a huge impact on great thinkers of his day. Though Crummellian philosophy is looked upon by many scholars as an antecedent, yet it is highly criticized from many angles. The chief reason being that Crummell lived in a very different time period when compared to the scholars of today. His Political Ideologies Even though Crummell claimed that he was not interested in politics and had no political ambitions whatsoever, yet, it is evident that he hoped to influence society by making use of his intellectualism