Abnormal Psychology: The Truman Show
Chima 1
Gurnit Chima
Mr. Dodds
Psychology; period 5
5 September 2013
The Truman Show
Truman Burbank is used for an experiment. Psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, Kendra
Cherry says “The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables.” Every aspect of Truman’s life is controlled by the tv show. The crew of the show control what is said to him, the environment, people, etc. The crew already know what is going to happen him since they control the setting. Truman lives in a very big lab/tv set.
Truman is forced unknowingly to do everything. For example, the girl he marries is forced by …show more content…
Christof. By having Truman’s life controlled, he is taken away from the natural human ability to identify ourselves in the world. He does not allow Truman free will, a human right everyone is born with. If he was never picked for this tv show his life would have been completely different. He would have never been scared to travel, or dogs, and could have married the girl he wanted to.
Our identity is how the world sees us. Truman does not have that. Christof forces Truman into a specific identity and does not allow Truman to experience a normal life.
The components of an experiment to be ethically correct is that the participant must choose to do the experiment or not. In The Truman Show, Truman is not told he his going/being filmed.
Chima 2
The time he was close to finding out what was going on was when Lauren was about to tell him, but then was taken off the show. Another component of ethical research is that the researchers must obtain informed consent, which the movie does not follow either. Also, there has to be confidentiality. The participant can withdraw from the experiment when they want, it is their right.
Truman tries to escape, but he is caught by the actors and taken back to his home. The tv show has no sense of ethics and proper experimenting.
The tv show does everything in their power to keep control of Truman’s life. When Truman is on the boat, trying to escape, the director tells his crew to set off a dangerous storm. Everyone thinks he is going to drown. He almost dies. The Network Executive says “We can 't let him die in front of
a live audience!” which Christof responds “He was born in front of a live audience.” Christof does not care for the well being of Truman at all. He just wants his star for the show. Nobody else, but Lauren, sees the tv show as immoral. Everyone just does as they are told and the audience loves the entertainment. Ethics should always be considered when doing an experiment.
Chima 3
Works Cited
McLeod, S. A. (2007). Psychology Research Ethics Simply Psychology.
"Part I: A Summary and Psychological Analysis." Appsychproject. Appsychproject, 26 Feb. 2013.
Web. 05 Sept. 2013.
"The Meaning of The Truman Show." The Meaning of The Truman Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Sept.
2013.
Gurnit Chima
Mr. Dodds
Psychology; period 5
5 September 2013
The Truman Show
Truman Burbank is used for an experiment. Psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, Kendra
Cherry says “The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and the manipulation of variables.” Every aspect of Truman’s life is controlled by the tv show. The crew of the show control what is said to him, the environment, people, etc. The crew already know what is going to happen him since they control the setting. Truman lives in a very big lab/tv set.
Truman is forced unknowingly to do everything. For example, the girl he marries is forced by …show more content…
Christof. By having Truman’s life controlled, he is taken away from the natural human ability to identify ourselves in the world. He does not allow Truman free will, a human right everyone is born with. If he was never picked for this tv show his life would have been completely different. He would have never been scared to travel, or dogs, and could have married the girl he wanted to.
Our identity is how the world sees us. Truman does not have that. Christof forces Truman into a specific identity and does not allow Truman to experience a normal life.
The components of an experiment to be ethically correct is that the participant must choose to do the experiment or not. In The Truman Show, Truman is not told he his going/being filmed.
Chima 2
The time he was close to finding out what was going on was when Lauren was about to tell him, but then was taken off the show. Another component of ethical research is that the researchers must obtain informed consent, which the movie does not follow either. Also, there has to be confidentiality. The participant can withdraw from the experiment when they want, it is their right.
Truman tries to escape, but he is caught by the actors and taken back to his home. The tv show has no sense of ethics and proper experimenting.
The tv show does everything in their power to keep control of Truman’s life. When Truman is on the boat, trying to escape, the director tells his crew to set off a dangerous storm. Everyone thinks he is going to drown. He almost dies. The Network Executive says “We can 't let him die in front of
a live audience!” which Christof responds “He was born in front of a live audience.” Christof does not care for the well being of Truman at all. He just wants his star for the show. Nobody else, but Lauren, sees the tv show as immoral. Everyone just does as they are told and the audience loves the entertainment. Ethics should always be considered when doing an experiment.
Chima 3
Works Cited
McLeod, S. A. (2007). Psychology Research Ethics Simply Psychology.
"Part I: A Summary and Psychological Analysis." Appsychproject. Appsychproject, 26 Feb. 2013.
Web. 05 Sept. 2013.
"The Meaning of The Truman Show." The Meaning of The Truman Show. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Sept.
2013.