Selects: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment
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What was the Three Christs of Ypsilanti experiment and why is it considered unethical?
The Three Christs of Ypsilanti was a psychological experiment conducted in the early 1960s by Dr. Milton Rokeach. He brought together three men who each believed they were Jesus Christ to challenge their delusions. The experiment is considered unethical because it manipulated the identities of mentally ill patients without regard for their well-being, causing emotional distress and worsening their conditions.
Who were the three participants in the Three Christs of Ypsilanti experiment?
The three participants were Joseph Cassell, Clyde Benson, and Leon. Joseph was a 58-year-old Canadian who believed he was God, Clyde was a 70-year-old alcoholic with paranoid schizophrenia who claimed to be Jesus Christ, and Leon was a 38-year-old World War II veteran who believed he was Jesus Christ and had a complex delusional system involving multiple identities.
What was Dr. Milton Rokeach's hypothesis in the Three Christs of Ypsilanti experiment?
Dr. Rokeach hypothesized that by confronting the three men with each other's delusions, he could challenge their beliefs and potentially bring them back to reality. He believed that exposing them to others who claimed the same identity would force them to question their own delusions.
How did the participants react to being confronted with each other's delusions?
Initially, the participants dug in and reinforced their own beliefs, each insisting they were the true Christ. Over time, they developed a live-and-let-live approach, avoiding direct confrontation and respecting each other's delusions, which demonstrated unexpected empathy and mutual respect.
What unethical tactics did Dr. Rokeach use during the experiment?
Dr. Rokeach employed several unethical tactics, including posing as authority figures from the participants' delusions (e.g., writing letters as Leon's 'wife' Madame Yeti Woman and Joseph's 'father' Dr. Yoder), administering placebos, and emotionally manipulating the participants to challenge their identities. These actions caused significant emotional harm.
What was the outcome of the Three Christs of Ypsilanti experiment?
The experiment failed to achieve its goal of curing the participants' delusions. Instead, it caused emotional distress and worsened their conditions. Dr. Rokeach later admitted the experiment was unethical and regretted his actions, acknowledging that he had played God with the lives of vulnerable individuals.
How did Dr. Rokeach's views on psychology change after the experiment?
After the experiment, Dr. Rokeach shifted his focus to self-confrontation and self-examination techniques, encouraging individuals to reflect on their beliefs and values. He moved away from manipulative experiments and focused on helping people improve themselves through introspection rather than external coercion.
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