Lord of the flies and psycology

Lord of the Flies – From a Different Perspective

Psychological Tests on Aggression & Authority

Osborn HungJason Hsu

Jacqueline LeungHank Yew

Key Terms:

The Robbers Cave Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment

Milgram’s Experiment


Muzafer Sherif et al (1954)

The Robbers Cave Experiment Experiment on intergroup conflict

and co-operation Interdisciplinary “psychological” and

“sociological” Test on intergroup relations


Hypotheses tested:1. Individuals with no established

relationships, but brought together with common goal, would produce a group structure with hierarchical statuses and roles within it.

2. Two groups, with a functional relationship, came under the condition of competition, negative attitudes and hostile actions towards the out-group members would arise


Setting of the experiment: 24 boys of about 12 years of age Similar, settled, lower-middle class

Protestant Well-adjusted psychologically Of normal physical development In the same year of schooling


1st stage: In-Group Formation Individuals were selected and divided

into two groups randomly Balancing the physical, mental, and

social talents


Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Jack created two tribes According to different strength,

abilities, beliefs, and responsibilities› “The choir belongs to you, of course. They

could be army, or hunters.” (Golden 19)


Ralph’s tribe Jack’s tribeWant(s) •To be rescued

•Go back home•Hunt •Fulfill own desires (eat meat)•Being protected from the beast

Responsibility •Build shelters•Protect littluns

•Hunt•Keep the signal fire

Civilization / Savagery

Civilization Savagery

The Robbers Cave Experiment Promote group cohesion and

cooperation Two groups worked together to fulfill

the basic needs of all boys Positive attitudes with their in-group

members (as they had similar thinking and beliefs)


2nd stage: Friction phase Two groups were bring into

competition Imply frustration in group relations Disrespect actions would occur Name-calling, razzing back and forth.

And singing of derogatory songs

The Robbers Cave ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Jack were competing about the belief

of civilization and savagery Compete for honor, authority, and followers Jack persuaded the boys to follow him, as he

could protect him from the beast Ralph and Piggy claimed that there was no

beast, it was just the fear in their heart› “I gave you food, and my hunters will protect you

from the beast. Who will join my tribe?”(Golden 166)› “I’m chief, because you chose me. And we were

going to keep the fire going. Now you run after food – “ (Golden 166)

The Robbers Cave Experiment Negative attitude towards out-group

members:› Jack: being rude and name-calling towards

Piggy› “Shut up, Fatty.” (Golden 17)› “His specs – use them as burning

glasses!”(Golden 40)


3rd stage: Integration phase Two groups had a series of contact

situations Tension would be decreased Attainment is beyond the resources

and efforts of one group alone


Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Negative integration Jack successfully persuade most of

the boys to become relatively more savage

In order to eat meat, and get protection from the beast, the boys joined Jack’s tribe

The Robbers Cave Experiment Tension between the two tribes decreased, as

they had common belief – savagery United Actions: Use the signal fire to roast the hunted pig

› “Piggy and Ralph, under the treat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society.” (Golden 167)

Killed Simon› “Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood! Do him

in!” (Golden 168)› “There was no words, and no movements but the

tearing of teeth and claws.” (Golden 169) Wanted to kill Ralph

› “They had smoked him out and set the island on fire.” (Golden 219)

The Robbers Cave Experiment Even Ralph and Piggy stepped towards

to become savagery Gave up the signal fire – gave up the

civilized part in their heart Tension decreased Common thinking and beliefs –

Savagery Not contributive, positive, and morally

right

The Robbers Cave Experiment Conclusion:1. Individual difference

› Rise of inter-group conflict› Divide into two groups according to interests,

beliefs, and abilities

2. Competition between two groups› Hostile and aggressive attitudes toward the

out-group

3. Contact with the other group› Reduce negative attitudes toward the other

group › Super-ordinate goal and united cooperative

action can reduce friction between groups

Stanford Prison Experiment

Martvn Shuttleworth (2008)


Degeneration and breakdown of the established rules and morals

Dictate how people should behave towards each other

About the amorality and darkness that inhabits the human psyche.

Failure Gave an insight into human psychology

and social behavior

Stanford Prison ExperimentSetting of the experiment: 24 physical Mental health Emotional stabilityStudents were divided into two teams

› one group posing as prison guards› another group posing as prisoner

15 days long Ends at the sixth day because of the

injuries and some experimenters quit the test

Stanford Prison ExperimentResult of the experiment: Degenerated very quickly The dark and inhuman side of human

nature became apparent very quickly Suffer a wide array of humiliations and

punishments at the hands of the guards Many began to show signs of mental and

emotional distress› Prisoners organized a mass revolt and riot, as

a protest about the conditions› One third of the guards began to show an

extreme and imbedded streak of sadism


Same theme with Lord of the Flies: At first, the boys were not too

offensive to each other Characters soon became evil and

violence Forgot own beliefs (civilization) Showed their dark and savage side


Analysis from Lord of the Flies: Jack At first, he was not able to kill a pig Soon, became more savagery Hunting became something exciting “Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Bash her

in.” (Golden 75)


After Jack got authority, his cruel personality showed more obviously

Torture the sow he hunted “He skewered the carcass, lifted the dead

weight, and stood ready. In the silence, and standing over the dry blood, they looked suddenly furtive.” (Golden 150)

Cruel Bloodlust


Analysis from Lord of the Flies: No longer respect and care about

lives “’You want a real pig,’ said Robert, still

caressing his rump, ‘because you’ve got to kill him.’ ‘Use a littlun,’ said Jack” (Golden 126)

Selfish Self-centered

Stanford Prison ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies: Started to destroyed the rules they set

up Tended to break democratic rules Tried to make civilization thoughts to

disappear “We don’t need the conch anymore. We

know who ought to say things. It’s time some people know they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us – “(Golden 111)


Conclusion: Individuals’ personalities could be

swamped when they were given positions of authority

Individuals’ reactions to the specific needs of the situation rather than referring to their own internal morals or beliefs


However, Believe man’s nature at birth is good Conscience and education can

enhance our goodness Allow us to become better person Only under pressure and force, we

will tend to be savagery

Milgram’s ExperimentSaul McLeod (2007)


This experiment reveals the majority of people are willing to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts that conflicted with their personal coincidence.

Lord of the flies is a typical example of obedience to authority, the boys are willing to go to almost any length on the command.

Milgram’s ExperimentExperiment: The experimenter (E) orders the teacher (T), the subject of the experiment, to give what the latter believes are painful electric shocks to a learner (L), who is actually an actor. The subject believes that for each wrong

answer, the learner will receive actual electric shocks, though in reality there were no such punishments

Milgram’s Experiment Students were separated from the subject Confederate set up a tape recorder

integrated with the electro-shock generator, which played pre-recorded sounds for each shock level

If the answer was incorrect, the teacher would administer a shock to the learner, with the voltage increasing in 15-volt increments for each wrong answer.

If correct, the teacher would read the next word pair.

Milgram’s Experiment When the subject attempted to quit

the experiment, the experimenter would tell the subject:1. Please continue.2. The experiment requires that you continue.3. It is absolutely essential that you continue.4. You have no other choice, you must go on.5. If the participant still want to quit after this

4 steps , they are allowed to quit Establish status and authority

Milgram’s ExperimentFactors that affect obedienceStatus of Location Personal Responsibility

Prestige of a location increases obedience

Less personal responsibility enables obedience to increases

Legitimacy of Authority Figure Status of Authority Figure

People tend to obey others from other people if they recognize their authority as morally right and / or legally based

The uniform of the authority figure can give them status

Peer Support Proximity of Authority Figure

The presence of others who are seen to disobey the authority figure reduces the level of obedience

It is easier to resist the orders from an authority figure if they are not close by


Hypothesis: Only 0%- 3% of participant would be

prepared to inflict the max voltage

Result: 65% (26 of 40) of experiment participants

administered the final massive 450-volt shock under experimenter’s order

Milgram’s ExperimentResult of the Experiment: Deception

› the participants believed they were shocking a real person

Protection of participants› participants were exposed to extremely

stressful situations › potential to cause psychological harm

Milgram debrief the participants fully after the experiment and also followed up after a period of time to ensure that they came to no harm


Analysis from Lord of the Flies:1. During the feast , Jack sat like an idol

and leader , he issued commands “Who’s going to join my tribe?”

(Golden 215) Most of the boys accepted As the boys wanted meat, and

protection from the beast

Milgram’s ExperimentAnalysis from Lord of the Flies:2. Wilfred was punished by Jack with no

apparent reason , but Roger and rest of the boys of the tribe feel nothing about it

“I don’t know. He didn’t say. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up. He’s been”—Robert giggled excitedly—“he’s been tied for hours, waiting—” (Golden 229)

None of the boys had courage to stand up for Wilfred

Fear of authority Gave up justice


Analysis from Lord of the Flies:3. Roger and Jack begin to torture Sam

and Eric, forcing them to submit to Jack’s authority and join his tribe.

Force the weak ones to follow them Violence action False use of authority


Analysis from Lord of the Flies:4. The evil tribe including Jack did not

make any disagreement with the officer when he assign Ralph as the leader and in charge

Under the officer, who is powerful, Jack did not have the courage to admit he took over most of the power

He did not admit he persuaded others to be savagery


Analysis from Lord of the Flies:5. The civilized officer is part of an adult

world in which violence and war go hand in hand with civilization and social order

Obey the authority Do things to destroy world peace Similar to what the boys did

Milgram’s ExperimentCompare novel with the experiment: The boys were fear about the beast

(electronic shock) Allowed Jack to gain power (obedience) Control them and persuade them to be

savagery (obey the experimenters) Boys followed, so they could get

protection (not to get shocked) “We’re strong – we hunt! If there’s a beast,

we hunt it down! We’ll close in and beat and beat and beat -!” (Golden 99)


Conclusion: The legal and philosophic aspects of

obedience are of enormous import The extreme willingness of adults to go

to almost any lengths on the command of an authority constitutes the chief finding of the study and the fact most urgently demanding explanation

People with authority gets to control

Any Questions?

Date post:	18-May-2015
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Lord of the flies and psycology

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