Level 6 Unit 3 Part 3 Listening Prison Experiment 2

Though the experiment was designed to last for 14 days, it had to be stopped after just six days.

It had to be stopped because of what was happening to the participants.

The interactions between the prisoners and guards had become hostile and degrading.

hostile：                                                                                                                                                        英 [ˈhɒstaɪl] 美 [ˈhɑ:stl] adj.怀有敌意的;敌人的，敌对的;不利的n.敌方;敌对者，敌对物

degrading：

degrading:英 [dɪˈgreɪdɪŋ] 美 [dɪˈɡredɪŋ] adj.丢脸的，有辱人格的v.降低( degrade的现在分词 );使降级;降低…身分;使丢脸

The guards had become aggressive and brutal, and the prisoners were passive and depressed.

aggressive： 英 [əˈgresɪv] 美 [əˈɡrɛsɪv] adj.侵略的，侵犯的，攻势的;（美）有进取心的，积极行动的;有进取心的，有闯劲的;好争斗的，借故生端的，爱打架的，要打架的

brutal ：英 [ˈbru:tl] 美 [ˈbrutl] adj.残忍的;野蛮的;无情的;不讲理的

As a result, five of the prisoners had to be released early because of the severe negative emotions.

Even the researchers were affected, and they began to overlook what was happening.

overlook: 英 [ˌəʊvəˈlʊk] 美 [ˌoʊvərˈlʊk] vt.远眺;忽视，忽略;瞭望;检查n.从高处眺望到的景色;忽视，忽略;可眺望四周的高地

Instead of halting the experiment, they let it continue.

halting英 [ˈhɔ:ltɪŋ] 美 [ˈhɔltɪŋ] adj.蹒跚的;跛的;踌躇的;迟疑不决的v.（使）停下来( halt的现在分词 )

They themselves had become dehumanized by the situation they had designed.

dehumanize :英 [ˌdi:ˈhju:mənaɪz] 美 [diˈhjuməˌnaɪz] vt.使失去人性，使非人化

Finally, they realized that the experiment had to be stopped.

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What this experiment demonstrates is the powerful effect that situations can have on human behavior.

demonstrate :英 [ˈdemənstreɪt]  美 [ˈdɛmənˌstret] vt.论证;证明，证实;显示，展示;演示，说明vi.示威游行

Given a position of power, people can begin to behave differently than they normally would.

They can begin to behave in an aggressive manner while those with no power can became passive and depressed.

In other words, the experiment shows that situations can cause abusive behavior.

abusive :英 [əˈbju:sɪv] 美 [əˈbjusɪv, -zɪv] adj.虐待的;滥用的;骂人的

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There are some important criticisms of this experiment.

criticism: 英 [ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm] 美 [ˈkrɪtɪˌsɪzəm] n.批评，批判;鉴定，审定，考证，校勘;苛求，[哲]批判主义;评论，评论文章

One criticism is that it is an example of unethical research.

unethical :英 [ʌnˈeθɪkl] 美 [ʌnˈeθɪkl] adj.不道德的

It went on longer than it should have.

It is also unrepresentative since the participants were mostly white, middle-class males.

middle-classadj.中层社会的，中产阶级的

unrepresentative :英 [ˌʌnˌreprɪˈzentətɪv] 美 [ˌʌnˌreprɪˈzentətɪv] adj.不典型的，没有代表性的

Despite the criticism, the experiment remains an important study of human behavior.

Recent examples of the Stanford Effect may include the treatment of prisoners of war by American soldiers in the Iraq war.

Other possible examples include bullying at school and gang behavior.

gang英 [gæŋ] 美 [ɡæŋ] n.帮派，团体;盗贼等的)一帮;（工具，机械等的）一套;〈美俚〉棒球队vt.使结成一帮;成群地袭击vi.结伙行动

bullyingv.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 );豪;跋扈

According to the head researcher, Philip Zimbardo, it helps to explain how ordinary people sometimes turn evil.

If situations do influence people behavior, then managing situations can be a way of controlling people.

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