Violence, Punishment, and Evil Behaviors - Term Paper Example

Gross (2008) cited from Phillip Zimbardo's study that one-third of the guards exhibited sadistic behaviors as a result of their inability to resist role pressure and exercise moral judgment once in a group (p. 24). In the study, Zimbardo also believed that because of unequal power within groups, the danger is inherently possible and evil behavior is a natural expression of those who have power. Thus, situational factors and not the individual dispositions or personalities of group members were the cause of violence or extreme behaviors among prison guards in the study. However, prison guards’ behavior may have also been affected by Zimbardo’s instructions and orientation of abuse and the guards believed that they are expected to act in a sadistic way.

Participants increased vulnerability to and propensity for cruelty compared to screening methods could also explain prison guards’ brutality. Selection bias was probably present because Zimbardo selected subjects based on volunteerism – one could volunteer in either group that does or does not have prison life. Studies found that those with propensities for violent or abusive behavior purposely chose to belong to the prison life group (Gross, 2008, 25). Asserting that a group with power over another group is dangerous, one could also put it in a positive way that groups can also foster pro-social behavior and reinforce moral judgment as Haslam and Reicher believed in the BBC Prison Study. Unlike Zimbardo’s study, BBC believed that the possibility of earning a promotion among prisoners made them uncooperative and resistant toward the guards, more positive and empowered, and organized and effective as a group (Gross, 2008, 26). As for the guards, they were unable to exercise their authority and establish a shared identity, experienced burn-out, and supported an egalitarian system.

Both studies assert a social identity theory that represents collective self-realization or adoption of others' values or belief systems that may either lead to a functional group or a group that directs misconduct and brutality. Social identity theory has relevance to violence, punishment, and evil behaviors which were explained in the article. Being in a group is one of the causative factors for violence and individual perceptions of groups affect how a person will behave. Brutality may emerge if the group has no pro-social values and has unequal power and perception of humanity; meanwhile, evil behavior is viewed to occur naturally in groups with unequal power and in good people who do nothing. Likewise, punishment in prison hierarchy may result in violence both among guards and prisoners.

After analysis of the article, the author has fully understood the role of social identity theory in understanding relationships and conflicts within groups. Social identity theory assumes that groups influence their members because of categorization and identification attached to a group member and thus, plays a vital role in shaping members’ values and belief systems (Forsyth, 2010, 77). Therefore, a group’s behavior could make a member act in an evil or violent way or could foster a member with moral judgment, empowerment, and functionality. The author also agrees with the findings that despite group influence, there may be a few that may oppose it.