10 Unbelievably Cruel Studies (Done In The Name Of Science)

4. Real Life Lord Of The Flies

William Golding's novella is a classic of English literature, as well as being a worst-case scenario for school trips that has caused many a sleepless night for particularly anxious parents of young children. For social psychologist Muzafer Sherif the book wasn't a source of entertainment or worry, however - it as the inspiration for one of his most well-known (and nasty) experiments. The Robbers Cave study was supposed to find out whether two groups would turn on each other, if left for long enough, in total isolation. No animosity between them beforehand. Would they still find things to become antagonistic about? No adult in their right mind would volunteer for such a piece of research, which Sherif didn't have to worry about. Because he took a literal page out of Golding's book and decided he would experiment on kids. Their parents signed off on it, don't worry, but the children in question didn't have a clue what was awaiting them when they got shipped off to camp at Robbers State Park in the summer of 1954. Did we mention this one also took place in Oklahoma? Is there something in the water there? That makes everyone insane and cruel? Unbeknownst to the kids they had been split into two separate groups, who shared the land but were encouraged not to interact, engaging in their own team building exercises and the usual summer camp activities. Eventually the two groups established their own hierarchy, elected leaders and formed unique identities, giving their groups names and flags. Within three weeks the two groups of 11-year-olds were at war with each other, engaging in frequent fistfights and large-scale vandalism of each others' camps to the degree that the police had to be called on numerous occasions. Hey, way to earn these kids records and bruises, Sherif!