PHL 200
Existentialism
03-2005
03-2005
Zimbardo Vs. Frankl
I was going to write this paper as a comparison between the Philip G. Zimbardo prison experiment and Viktor Frankl’s theory on finding meaning in even the worst of circumstances, but I don’t think I can.
I don’t believe that the Zimbardo experiment went on long enough to be of any relevance. Should it have gone on longer, I believe Frankl’s theory would’ve held up. From personal experience I have learned that there are phases a person goes through when put in such an environment.
When I was 16 years old I was admitted (against my will) to a medical detox facility for chemical dependency, and then to a lock-down halfway house for 8 months. The first 2-3 weeks were the worst of my life. As I later saw, every girl went through the same adjustment period. It was exactly like the Zimbardo experiment.
The staff, like the guards, were not allowed to use physical force to control us, but they could use a variety of psychological tactics. The first day I was in shock, I completely ignored everyone, refused to follow any rules, and tried to justify why I didn’t need to be there. From the second day to about the end of the 1st week I was angry, defiant, and did everything I could to get kicked out. By the second week I gave up. I was completely broken. I withdrew from the group and complied with whatever the staff told me to do. At the end of the 1st month I adjusted to the environment and integrated into the group. It was at this point that I was able to find meaning in my being there, and accepted that I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. This is when I began to find myself through self-expression; writing, drawing, and meditation.
At about 6 months I snapped. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, I knew I would be leaving in about 3 more months and would have to get an apartment and integrate back into society. Time began to pass very slowly. I began to focus more on the future rather than the present, and lost sight of meaning. As my perspective and my attitude changed, the environment became more and more like psychological torture than an opportunity for self-discovery. A staff member I had grown close to in the preceding months saw this change and tried to remind me that attitude is everything, and all that I could really control was my attitude. She had me memorize a quote from a book that said “…Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation, some fact of my life unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.”
When I still didn’t improve, I was put in isolation and given “non-verbal” which meant that I was not allowed to speak to anyone for any reason. Everytime I opened my mouth, this task was extended another day. At first I was furious and frustrated, but by the second day I began to appreciate it. I once again had the opportunity for reflection, and I was able to reach deep within myself to re-discover meaning. A month and a half later I left and moved into an apartment. Since then I have taken time each day to hold on to meaning and self-expression.
So while I don’t believe the Zimbardo expirament can be compared to Frankl’s writings, I firmly believe that he is right. One can find meaning in any circumstance, and in many ways this environment can often encourage a change in attitude out of necessity, and inspire a search for meaning. The reason: In day-to-day life we are often distracted by outside events, and don’t find it necessary to explore ourselves. But in circumstances such as imprisonment, you must find meaning or it will break you, and your soul will die from the seeming hopelessness of it all. Attitude is everything. It is only when we accept this fact, and engage in out own ‘search for meaning’ that we can truly be free.
Further Study:
Zimbardo Experiment:
“Man’s Search for Meaning” – Viktor Frankl:
2 comments:
Wait what? You got admitted to a medical detox facility? Is this your essay?
Yeah, everything on this blog is written by me.
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