Horizon on Violence last night. Anyone watch it?

[OrmIrian]

Found it fascinating. Not altogether surprised that the tests showed he was more prone to violence after 60 sleepless hours with 2 newborns They really laid it on with a trowel with that - single man, 2 babies, demanding physical job!

The 19yr old biology student was a bit of a psycho though

Yes, it didn't really tell you anything new but it was well done and I enjoyed it. I did have a little chuckle at Michael Portillo having a fight, hehehe.

I also wondered with the 19 year old if there was any correlation between age and listening to authority.

Yes I wondered that too. I also wondered if it was because she was used to dissecting frogs

I was very moved listening to the young African man talking about his childhood experiences as a soldier

I was impressed that they managed to find people who'd never heard of the experiment!

What struck me was how articulate the hooligan and the child soldier were. You tend to think of people who have been extremely voilent as being unable to string a sentence together but the level of self-awareness was quite an eye-opener.

I was grinning a little (in sympathy obviously ) at his sleeplessness when dealing with the newborns.

I saw it. Thought it was good; rather unnerved by the 9 out of 12 that would have electrocuted someone to death though!

Yes sidge, that was shocking. I was busy saying 'Oh I'd refuse!' but maybe I wouldn't. They all seemed like 'normal' people.

Yes sidge, that was shocking. I was busy saying 'Oh I'd refuse!' but maybe I wouldn't. They all seemed like 'normal' people.

Yes sidge, that was shocking. I was busy saying 'Oh I'd refuse!' but maybe I wouldn't. They all seemed like 'normal' people.

Very shocking obviously

Bloody laptop!

You were obviously shocked OrmIrian!

I was surprised by the results though; I was watching it thinking that I would NEVER have gone so far. But then it just goes to show the power of authority I suppose.

When I studied psychology I remember learning about a study in the early 1970s by Zimbardo whereby a mock prison scenario was created to test behaviour relating to authority, cognitive dissonance and aggressive behaviour. It had to be stopped early as the participants became far too sadistic and some volunteers became traumatised. The programme reminded me of that.

I remember seeing that on TV aboit 10yrs ago I think. Was that the one where some students were warders and some were prisoners? Again quite shocking and depressing really.