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What do you think was most powerful for perpetuating the brutality at the Stanford Prison Experiment: the "individuation" process that the prisoners had to undergo, the prison uniforms that the guards had to wear, or the money that each individual was paid for participating in the experiment? Explain your answer.​

User Jmsu
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Answer: It can be argued that the most powerful factor for perpetuating the brutality at the Stanford Prison Experiment was the "individuation" process that the prisoners had to undergo. The process of stripping the prisoners of their personal identities and forcing them into submissive roles in the prison structure created a power dynamic that fueled the abusive behavior of the guards. This dynamic was reinforced by the prison uniforms and the authority that came with them, as well as the power that came with being a participant in the experiment. The money paid for participating was likely a secondary factor in perpetuating the abuse, as it gave the guards and prisoners a sense of validation and importance within the experiment, but it was the individuation process that set the stage for the brutalities to occur.

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