http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/lord-of-the-flies-is-still-a-blueprint-for-savagery-9191297.html
This article discusses the fact that the Lord of the flies was actually extremely accurate on how people behave when put into situations like those in the Lord of the Flies.
The first experiment it discusses was an experiment about two groups of 11 year old boys put into what they thought was a summer camp. Almost as soon as they heard the other group rivalries grew and it escalated quickly into violence. Related to the Lord of the flies in the way that the two groups became very hostile by the end of the book.
Second they discussed the chilean miners who were stuck underground in 2010. The miners spoke of seeing evil ghost-like things moving through the dark corners of the mine. The also talked of "evil manifesting out of the rocks themselves.". This relates directly to the Lord of the Flies and how the beast takes over the minds of the children on the island and how it makes them turn into savages and begin to turn on themselves.
This article shows that the psychology behind Lord of the Flies is completely accurate and happens in real life situations.
Woah that's really cool! However, do you think that the type of person, and their faith can change the way that their minds alternate when placed in situations like that? Because some people get scared, and instantly start seeing things, but are there people who are the opposite? Who always stay calm and try to help others.
ReplyDeleteIts very possible but i believe that the people who don't see things may choose to suppress these things in order to stay calm and get them all out safely, like ralph did with the beast the choice to completely ignore it
DeleteYou're absolutely right about this book being so accurate. It's actually scary how much so. To think that humans are capable of the things in Lord of the Flies is truly disturbing.Good people in bad situations so often make a choice. A choice to do evil. What does it take for us to choose good? I also wonder if there are more experiments that have been done with girls rather than just boys. Would there be a difference in psychological behavior? Would the results stay the same if there was a mix of genders? I think that to add to the psychology, it would be interesting to explore gender roles as well. The results could be the same, or drastically different.
ReplyDeleteWhat you just put on the website has such a direct link to Lord of the flies and is very cool! I completely see what the website is trying to teach as it shows how we are effected by our surroundings. For the first experiment I feel that it is very apparent between even Jack and Ralph and their tribes. As both examples show how surroundings can take over our mentality, this prompts us into thinking whether we are shaped by nature or nurture?
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good post relating to how Golding actually used us as a sort of inspiration and backstory for LOTF. Just like Mr. Kersten said in class, what would happen if he left us all in here with no supervision?
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good post relating to how Golding actually used us as a sort of inspiration and backstory for LOTF. Just like Mr. Kersten said in class, what would happen if he left us all in here with no supervision?
ReplyDeleteIn the Robbers Cave Experiment, I noticed that on the first day, the Rattlers wear "full war paint" when raiding the Eagles camp. This is frighteningly similar to how Jack & Co. also wear face paint where they are "liberated from shame and self consciousness"(64). If they didn't hide behind a mask, would the outcome be different? Would it be the same regardless?
ReplyDeleteMasks can cause us to do many things that we would not normally do because we feel that no one is able to tell that it is us that did the deed. There are probably many psychological studies behind this.
DeleteGreat post Ellis! Reading the article, your analysis, and all of the comments were very interesting. This article is also frighteningly very accurate. Rito's comment (above) really affected my thinking. In Lord of the Flies, Jack feels some sort of shield when he has the mask on, it almost seems like they allow their inner beast out. On page 64, after Jack gives an order, it tells us that the twins listened to him because "the mask compelled them." I found this to be a fascinating point. Did the Rattlers feel the same way - that the mask was some sort of shield, so that they could let their inner beast out?
ReplyDeleteI think this also plays out in a bunch of reality TV shows such as Survivor or Big Brother. In both shows there are 2 teams trying to survive in a random place. I guess it kind of shows how you see LOTF taking place in the real world. Usually by the end of the tv shows both teams hate each other and they think one is better than the other.
ReplyDeleteI think this also plays out in a bunch of reality TV shows such as Survivor or Big Brother. In both shows there are 2 teams trying to survive in a random place. I guess it kind of shows how you see LOTF taking place in the real world. Usually by the end of the tv shows both teams hate each other and they think one is better than the other.
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ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting! Our classroom is also an example of this. There is always chaos before Mr. Kersten arrives. When he does come, we associate authority with following societal rules. Is this proving that we are all fundamentally evil?
ReplyDeleteI find this to be quite engaging as human nature will never change no matter how much time passes. There will always be chaos until a figure of a higher power tells people to stop. Without authority, chaos will insure and civilisation will crash and burn.
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