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Hello, dear site visitors! The third wave experiment is a prime example of how easily people can commit violent crimes while still finding quite constructive justifications for their actions.
As any group by the number of members can become a single organism pursuing a certain goal, the fulfillment of which requires the abandonment of their interests and the loss of individual, unique personality traits.
And today we will consider the conditions under which it was conducted and what conclusions the researchers came to as a result.
prehistory
In April 1967, in the city of Palo Alto, which is located within the state of California in the USA outside the walls of an ordinary gymnasium, a history lesson began, led by Ron Jones.
His students were going through a new topic dedicated to the Second World War and were extremely surprised at what atrocities the German soldiers were doing.
They could not believe that the Nazis massacred their enemies in cold blood, not only soldiers, but also civilians, among whom were children, women, and the elderly.
After all, the people could well organize an uprising and stop this nightmare that was going on in the concentration camps. But instead, he pretended that nothing so terrible was happening. Everyone is just doing their job. No more.
The teacher was confused, because he did not know how to explain that, getting into a certain system, a person can lose the ability to empathize and pity in general.
His emotional sphere seems to be “frozen”, thus the psyche protects the body, which can break down, fail from overexertion.
Therefore, I decided to conduct an experiment so that schoolchildren not only visually see what is happening in the process, but also, having taken an active part, could feel for themselves how thoughts and feelings change when an order to act is received.
He allocated one working week for it, starting on Monday. His idea was supported and the «show» began.
The first day
So, on Monday, Ron decided to introduce discipline to his high school students. After all, in Germany it was always a priority. The Nazis strictly adhered to the rules and norms that were presented to them.
Jones tried to convey to children the benefits of discipline. He cited the example of athletes who would not have achieved anything if they had not started training every day, despite the weather, muscle pain and simply unwillingness to work.
Artists whose strokes became more confident also through self-discipline and control over themselves and their desires.
After the lecture, it was time for practice. The subjects were instructed to practice sitting in one position that was considered correct and beneficial for posture.
Namely, the feet should be fully touching the floor, the ankles together, the knees bent at a ninety degree angle. The spine is straight, hands behind the back, the chin “looks” down.
In order for the children to quickly master the new position, he walked between the rows and corrected those who made mistakes. After that, he dismissed the guys, allowing them to wander around the room, and then abruptly gave the command “at attention”, according to which the students had to quickly take their original position.
They trained until they learned how to sit correctly in just five seconds. And silently, without making any sound at all. The «training» took no more than 20 minutes.
Additions
The students obeyed and learned commands so easily that Ron wondered how long he could apply pressure without the slightest resistance from them.
So I introduced some new rules.
- As soon as the bell rings for the lesson, everyone should be in their places;
- Everyone is required to carry pencils and note paper;
- Answering a question, or asking it, the student should stand next to his desk, with a straight back;
- Any appeal to the teacher must necessarily begin with the words «Mr. Jones.»
Those who quickly coped with the assigned tasks received praise. Those who did not manage to fulfill the requirements the first time were practiced until they themselves could be taken as an example to follow.
It is interesting that on this day schoolchildren showed the greatest activity than in all previous years of study. Usually, several high school students, mostly excellent students, participated in discussions and open discussions.
On Monday, the whole class asked questions in a lively manner. The care was also excellent. Nobody dozed off at the lesson, waiting for the break to finally begin and it would be possible to do more interesting things.
Second day
On Tuesday, as soon as Ron entered the auditorium, he was surprised to find his guys in the proper position. Most of them sat so still that they didn’t even smile. Their faces and necks were tense. Everyone was waiting to see what would happen next.
The researcher, in order to defuse the situation at least a little, went up to the blackboard and wrote on it in large letters several laws that they had to adhere to in the coming week: «Strength in discipline» and «Strength in community.»
Yes, the topic of the second day was community. Jones shared his thoughts on the value of belonging to a group where they will support and help, listen and not let you be left alone.
Later, he made the children shout the two considered laws loudly, like a slogan, and noted how they began to look at each other with interest. The subjects were able to gain new experience, the experience of being accepted into a team where everyone is equal and valuable, and also follow the same goal.
At the end of the lesson, the teacher had an unexpected idea to create a greeting. To give it away, it was necessary to raise the right hand and bend the hand like a boat.
This salute was called the «third wave», and all because it resembled the crest of an oncoming wave. The number is also not random. Sailors believe that waves appear three at a time in one series, and the last one is the most tangible, large, and at times dangerous.
This greeting was conceived only for this class. Children were required to salute each other when they met, both in the classroom and during breaks.
Naturally, the unusual movements of a certain group of people aroused the interest of the entire school. Some directly asked about what was happening, and some immediately began to repeat after the guys.
The third day
Wednesday started with new rules. The researcher decided to distribute membership cards to all study participants. The class consisted of 30 people, plus 13 students ran away from other lessons to join the main group.
So Ron issued 43 membership cards since morning. On 3 of them there was a red cross, which meant that this person was chosen for special purposes. That is, to report on those who do not want to follow the established rules or are trying to disrupt the experience.
This was followed by a lecture directly on the power of action, the absence of which neutralizes the positive results of discipline and community.
And also about how difficult it is to achieve success in a competitive environment, how much it causes tension and anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and own worthlessness in case of loss.
Surprisingly, the children not only accepted the material with a bang, but also thanked the teacher for such valuable information. Although, as noted earlier, the guys usually did not listen to the lesson, but went about their business, waiting for a call for a break.
They not only completed their homework about the life of the Nazis with high quality and in a timely manner, but also found additional information. That is, they overfulfilled the plan, although no one asked them for more. As you can imagine, rarely does anyone show such a desire for learning.
Practical part
To move from words to actions, Jones gave each subject a task. For example, someone had to design a banner for their group, someone had to make sure that only those who already had a membership card entered the premises.
And someone needed to recruit new children from neighboring schools, or memorize the addresses of all the participants in the experiment, teach others the correct posture and convince them that it is always necessary and useful to sit like that, not only at school.
In general, an atmosphere of vigorous activity reigned in the gymnasium, the students were so animated and included in the process that out of 43 people, by the end of the working day, the “Third Wave” had about 200 participants.
Other teachers joined in, cooks, a librarian, and even the director, who appeared at the pedagogical meeting and, instead of demanding explanations and stopping experiments on children, saluted Ron. Which at that moment felt the horror of what was happening and, paradoxically, loneliness.
Do you know why? Because instead of 3 students, about 20 came to him for denunciation, although no one asked them to take on this responsibility. Nearly half of the class volunteered to plot in an attempt to locate the enemy and eliminate him.
It was interesting to observe the behavior of three excellent students who are used to being in the spotlight due to their mental abilities, which at the moment have ceased to be of any value.
Now they were off to the side and looked extremely puzzled. Therefore, in the evening they complained to their relatives about what was happening within the walls of the school.
Naturally, this news excited them, and the rabbi of one of the parents called the teacher to clarify the situation. But, having learned that children just in this way study the type of personality of the Nazis, he calmed down and promised to explain to the others so that they would not worry about this.
By the way, on the third day, Jones had a bodyguard in the person of one previously unremarkable student. He himself volunteered for this role, accompanying his teacher everywhere, opening the door to the audience for him and saluting the rest of the group.
Fourth day
More than half of the students became obsessed with the «Third Wave», and the teacher felt like a dictator who, while controlling the crowd, is trying to justify his actions in his own eyes.
He did not know what to do, because he clearly did not like this role, but he had not figured out how to stop the experiment he had begun. Plus, in the morning he found the alarmed father of one of the students at the door of the auditorium.
It turned out that the day before he, having lost control over himself, turned the furniture in the classroom and made a real mayhem. Therefore, he came to explain himself and ask for help to get him home.
In this state, he was due to the fact that, having learned about the experience, it was as if he was again in a prisoner of war camp, from where he miraculously got out alive. Yes, during the war he had to endure inhuman torment and suffering. Memories of comrades who died in cruel tortures deprived him of reason for a while.
This frightened Ron even more and convinced him that it was time to “turn off” the “Third Wave”. As well as the sharply increased number of students in the class. If earlier there were 30 of them, then on Thursday morning it turned out to be 80.
They abandoned their program in order to become complicit in the research. And this already crossed all boundaries and interfered with the learning process itself.
nationwide program
On this day, the teacher decided to talk about pride. He said that the feeling of his exclusivity can not be destroyed in any way. That’s why it’s so important to be proud of who you are.
He also said that in fact the “Third Wave” is not just an experience, but a whole nationwide program. The main purpose of which was to discover the true fighters for the wonderful future of their country.
He asked three excellent students who opposed innovations to leave the audience, arguing that they had not passed the test and were not allowed further. Moreover, they did not just leave, but were withdrawn under escort of 4 volunteers.
Then he announced that on Friday at noon they would have to gather in a small auditorium by 12 o’clock, as the presidential candidate would make an official report on the formation of this youth movement.
Reporters will be present at this meeting to film such a significant event and interview the most active participants.
No one was indignant and did not question the words of the teacher, but on the contrary, the guys began to worry about what clothes they should wear and whether it was possible to bring their friends from other schools.
Fifth day
By noon on Friday, the auditorium was full. There was not a single empty seat, some even had to stand.
Jones invited friends who played the role of journalists, taking group pictures of children and writing down their answers in notebooks. At precisely 12:05 p.m., when deathly silence reigned in the room, the teacher turned on the TV, which was supposed to broadcast the speech of the presidential candidate.
But the picture on the screen did not change, it just squeaked and showed white stripes. The audience lurked in anticipation, until one brave schoolboy, a couple of minutes later, asked a question about what was happening.
The time has come to tell everything. Ron stood up and loudly announced that no program really existed, and neither did its leader. That everyone who is currently in the audience turned out to be victims of manipulation.
Following the lead of their own ambitions, they simply abandoned the beliefs and values that guided them earlier.
Which allows us to draw conclusions about the similarities with the Nazis during the war. They committed inhuman acts, not taking responsibility for what they had done, justifying themselves by the fact that they were ordered, and so it was right. Nothing personal, they were just doing their job.
To add credibility to the words, he took the cameras from the hands of his comrades and lit up the film. The third wave has ceased to exist.
The children were confused. Some of them cried, not hiding their tears, some immediately rushed to the exit, creating a stampede. Jones hugged Robert, his bodyguard, for comfort, and felt the touch of others. The guys huddled together in a tight circle to support each other and calm down themselves.
The next week began as if nothing had happened. The students tried to avoid talking about what had happened. Although, together with their guru, they analyzed actions and feelings, despite the fact that they wanted to, on the contrary, quickly forget about everything.
Completion
By the way, Palo Alto is located near Stanford University, where in 1971 Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment no less known to the world, only a prison one.
It is rightfully considered the most cruel and dangerous for the human psyche, because later the subjects were found to have health problems. In general, follow the link and you will understand everything.
By the way, in 2008 a film called Experiment 2: The Wave was released. We recommend viewing, as, in principle, the first part, which tells about how the Stanford experiment was conducted and what it led to.
Take care of yourself and be happy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina