Prison mind games

Prison mind games
by Ari Siletz
26-Aug-2010
 

Average Iranians are very different than female Canadian university students used as psych experiment guinea pigs, but when it comes to studies on the mental effects of repression, IRI opposition may want to take note of how these Canadians subjects performed.

Turns out, if a repressive system is perceived as difficult to avoid the subject is more likely to defend that system. Here’s how this intriguing revelation is stated in a web publication of The Association of Psychological Sciences. “…female Canadian students read a paragraph about freedom of emigration from Canada. Half read that moving out of Canada would become easier and the other half read that this would become more difficult. Then all participants read another paragraph describing a gender inequality (“male university graduates in this country are more financially successful than their female counterparts”). The results showed that those who read the paragraph about emigration becoming more difficult were not only more likely to defend the emigration policy, but surprisingly also more likely to defend gender inequality, too.”

This seems pretty backwards, but we’re dealing with the human mind where what makes sense at first glance ain’t necessarily what happens. One possible application of this research for diaspora opposition filmmakers whose works may be seen on satellite channels is to incline to works that understate the regime’s power. More happy endings where lovers get away, and fewer tragedies where they are stoned.

Balatarin
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Aryana-Vaeja

It isn't just systems

by Aryana-Vaeja on Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:00 AM PDT

This sort of response occurs in the dynamics of many one-on-one (man/woman) relationships as well. And as much as I hate to say it, predominantly women seem to give in more to repressive situations than men seem to do. Why is that?

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May we be amongst those who are to bring about the transfiguration of the Earth - Zoroastrian prayer


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Ari Siletz

Very much so Anahid

by Ari Siletz on Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:28 PM PDT

This results of this experiment support the Stockholm Syndrome concept. Working to reduce the effect would be a worth while effort for politically inclined talent. 

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Anahid Hojjati

dear Ari, very interesting blog

by Anahid Hojjati on Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:18 PM PDT

Dea Ari, your blog is so true. I have been thinking that behavior of some Iranians in defending IRI is like Stockholm Syndrome victims.


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