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Showing posts with the label the stanford prison experiment

The “Settle In” Advice for New Jobs Is Dangerous

Introduction  When you join a new company, someone will probably tell you, “Don’t worry. Just take some time to settle in.” It sounds like good advice. After all, starting a new job can be overwhelming. There are new people, processes, systems, expectations, and ways of working. Naturally, you need time to understand your surroundings. But there is a problem with the “settle in” mindset. If you spend your first few months simply waiting to feel comfortable, you may lose the most valuable period of your transition. Your first 90 days are not just a period for settling in. They are a period for learning, building relationships, creating credibility, and understanding how you can make an impact.  Why “Just Settle In” Can Hold You Back  When people are told to settle in, they often become passive. They attend meetings, complete assigned tasks, observe what others are doing, and wait for someone to tell them what they should focus on. There is nothing wrong with observing. In ...

The Stanford Prison Experiment

INTRODUCTION The Stanford Prison Experiment or Zimbardo Prison Study is a psychological study experiment held at Stanford University in 1971, to examine the effect of situation variables on participants’ reactions and behaviour in a two-week prison simulated environment. This study was conducted by Stanford’s Psychology professor, Dr Philip Zimbardo along with his team and was funded by the US Office of Naval Research to understand anti-social behaviour. Dr Zimbardo’s main focus was on the power that lies in roles that people play, the rules that govern them, group identity, symbols, and the situational validation of behaviour that generally would repulse ordinary behaviour. EXPERIMENT For the Stanford Prison experiment or Zimbardo Prison Study, 24 healthy, mentally stable, white, middle-class men were recruited on a wage basis for 14 days. Half of them were given the role of a prison guard and the rest were given the role of prisoners. Dr Zimbardo took the role of Superintendent. An u...