The Stanford Prison Experiment

In 1971, Stanford University professor and researcher Dr. Philip Zimbardo wanted to study obedience and societal roles especially under what circumstances ordinary people would do horrible things.

Volunteers were called for and a fake prison was set up in the basement of the Stanford campus psychology building.

The experiment was a classic study in how ordinary citizens, such as the Nazis, could be involved in crimes against humanity.  Go to the following website and follow the story, watch videos and answer the questions on each page.

The Story of the Stanford Prison Experiment

1. Answer each question found on the pages next to the bullhorn symbol and underneath "Discussion".  (The first one isn't really a question so ask why police choose those techniques.)
2. Look at the pictures and watch the videos to help answer the discussion questions.

Obedience

Stanley Milgram was a researcher who studied obedience at Yale.  He and many others were concerned about the type of society that could participate in such atrocities as the Holocaust.  Go to the following website and find the answers to the questions that follow.  There are several short videos to watch.  Please use your own piece of paper.

The Milgram Experiment

1. What was the circumstance that led Milgram to attempt to answer his question?
2. According to the article, what is the definition of "obedience"?
3. Describe the basic idea of the experiment.
4. What was the result?  
5. What were Milgram's conclusions?
6. Briefly describe Milgram's Agency Theory.

Prostitution Around the World

Many places do allow prostitution, at least under certain circumstances.  Go to the following website and use it to answer the following questions:

The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country

1. How many countries in the world allow prostitution?
2. What do you think it means that a country "restricts" prostitution?  Give an example.
3. What seems to be a similarity among nations that allow prostitution or among nations that do not allow it?
4. What surprised you most about where prostitution is legal or illegal?

The Morality and Legality of Prostitution

You will go to the following website to prepare for a debate on prostitution.

Pro/con prostitution

Your document is in your Google Drive labeled:  Legality of Prostitution

Fill in the document as you search the website.  The “Did You Know?” and “Historical Timeline” buttons are on the right side of the web page.

Use any of the topics to find arguments for and against.

Pay Gap

78 cents.

That is how much money women earn for every dollar a man earns.  This is a widely quoted statistic. But is this accurate?  This is an important issue and understanding it completely is also important.

Your task is to explore this issue and find out the truth, or as much of it as you can.

Here is an article that will give you some basic information, but it is only one side of the argument.

Pay Equity & Discrimination

Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper:

1.     Is there really a pay gap between men and women?

2.     If so, how much is it?  Do women really earn only 78% of what a man does?

3.     If there really is a pay gap, why does it exist?  Consider the following:

·         Education

·         Age

·         Experience

·         Career choice

4.     Are there any other factors to consider?  What are those factors?

5.     What is your opinion on the matter?  Use both personal information and what you have found today.  75+ words.  Be ready to defend your position.

For your research, find and use at least 3 different sources from the internet.  Make sure you list the web address as a source.