Today we're going to do a practice run in synthesis writing. To do this, we will use 1984 as our primary text and Zimbardo's The Lucifer Effect as our supporting synthesis text. Feel free to collaborate as we brainstorm a claim and argument.
The Lucifer Effect is where Philip Zimbardo wrote on the Stanford Prison Experiment. In this experiment, subjects were assigned roles as prisoners and prison guards. It had horrific outcomes; in short, it revealed that people will easily conform against their own morals in the presence of an authority figure. First, a practice topic:
How do both Orwell and Zimbardo demonstrate that oppressive systems rely on institutionalized roles and controlled contexts to enforce conformity?
For each of the following quotes from The Lucifer Effect, find specific examples in 1984 that may be explained by this new evidence.
Systemic Power and Dehumanization
"The System’s power comes from its ability to control
the social context... Once you institutionalize roles and rules, you create a
situation where people mindlessly follow scripts handed to them by
authorities." (Chapter 12, p. 210)
Connection to 1984:
The Party’s control over language (Newspeak), surveillance (telescreens), and
rituals (Two Minutes Hate) mirrors Zimbardo’s "scripts."
Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth is a "role" that forces him to
conform, even when he resists.
Conformity and Peer Pressure
"The normative influence of groups leads individuals to conform, not
out of fear of punishment, but because they want to belong. This is how
ordinary people can endorse atrocities—not because they are evil, but because
the system rewards compliance." (Chapter 5, p. 89)
Connection to 1984:
The Spies and Junior Anti-Sex League indoctrinate children to report
"thoughtcrimes," showing how peer pressure sustains the Party’s
power.
Winston’s coworker Parsons is proud when his daughter denounces him—a chilling
example of conformity overriding familial bonds.
Obedience to Authority
"The Stanford Prison Experiment revealed that when people are given
unchecked power, even for a short time, they readily adopt abusive roles... The
situation, not individual pathology, drives cruelty." (Chapter 11, p. 193)
Connection to 1984:
O’Brien tortures Winston not out of personal hatred but because the Party
demands it.
The Thought Police act as enforcers of the system, much like Zimbardo’s
"guards."
Cognitive Dissonance and Doublethink
"When people are forced to act against their beliefs, they often
rationalize their actions to reduce mental discomfort. This is how oppressive
systems sustain themselves—not just through force, but through the victims’ own
psychological adjustments." (Chapter 14, p. 255)
Connection to 1984:
Winston’s eventual acceptance of "2 + 2 = 5" mirrors this idea.
The concept of doublethink (holding two contradictory beliefs) is a direct
parallel.