The Psychology of Tyranny

The Experiment was a documentary series broadcast on BBC television in 2002  in which 15 men were randomly selected to be either “prisoner” or “guard”, contained in a simulated prison over an eight-day period. The men were initially tested and screened by clinical psychologists and were broadly judged to be ‘good ‘men.”The BBC Prison Study explored the social and psychological consequences of putting people in groups of unequal power. It examined when people accept inequality and when they challenge it”. 

In a very short time indeed, the disunion between the two groups encompassed phases of conflict, order, rebellion and tyranny. The guards lacked a sense of common identity from the start. They could not agree on values and goals leading their group to be disunited and vulnerable to exploitation by various prisoners. Some members of both groups did try to work hard to achieve their group goals but were frustrated  – either because they lacked group identity and group power or because they are unwilling to exert group power. As a result they became burnt out, despondent and stressed. The conclusions of the study point to important links between social psychological factors (group identity, group solidarity) and significant clinical outcomes (anxiety,depression).  Mental health may be ‘all in the mind’, but the state of the mind is powerfully shaped by the quality of group life.

So what has this got to do with the likes of Mr. Trump?!

See if you can read any similarities what transpired in those eight days and what is happening in America today. Here are the conclusions of the study:

Successful groups give their members the power to put ideas into practice; this brings psychological benefits to individual members. The implications for a society vary and will depend upon the particular belief systems associated with particular groups. Where these beliefs are undemocratic and oppressive, groups can be tyrannical. Conversely, where these beliefs are democratic and open, groups can safeguard humanity.

But why do people support oppressive groups? When and why do we fall under the spell of tyrants? Our study suggests that this happens when groups fail. When people cannot realize their own values and beliefs, they are more likely to accept alternatives – however drastic – that provide the prospect of success. In particular, when their group is failing, they are more likely to embrace a strong figure who promises to make things work for them. It is this combination of failure and promise which made our participants become more authoritarian. In history too, these are conditions that have precipitated tyranny.

The answer to tyranny is not to distrust or to fear power. It was this that created problems for the Guards’ regime and for the Commune. Rather, the answer is to use group power responsibly, democratically and in defence of humane values. In this way, we can act together to resist tyranny – either one imposed by others or one made by ourselves.

The Psychology of Tyranny