This seems to come up a lot during class. Does human behavior change while being watched?Over 360 children have participated in a phycology experiment in 1976 on halloween. The phycologist put themselves into eighteen different homes. They would talk to the children for a little then ask them to take one piece of candy only after shutting the door and leaving them alone with the bowl. On some houses they put down a mirror in the corner and most kids seemed behave and not take more the one piece while looking at there own reflection. They felt as if they were being watched. Even being underneath there halloween masks and costumes. I cant find the specific film on it right now but i’m going to try and find it and link it to the page tonight.
This sounds pretty interesting and yes quite linked to what we watch and discuss in class.
I would like to see this video if you are able to find it. This is something I always found interesting about documentaries as well as reality television. Is reality television actually realty? In an article by Anna Klassen, she talks about her experience on a reality TV show and how it was not in fact reality at all. This makes me wonder if this can also be true for some documentaries. In my opinion, what makes all the difference is the film maker or director. There may be a filmmaker who wants to shoot extremely raw footage for a documentary. However as you mentioned, the issue that comes up is if people actually act differently with a camera around. In the instance of reality TV, Anna Klassen is acting differently because she is instructed to. However, if a director instructs someone to act “normal” there is still a good chance that person will not act normal, even if they are not aware that they aren’t acting normal. I believe that if you know that you are being watched and/or recorded it is natural instinct to act at least a little bit differently. As you mentioned, even being watched by your own reflection impacted some children’s decision making. I think it’s important to keep this in mind throughout this class because some things may seem odd in the films we watch but it could just be due to what the director is telling the person to do or it could even be the person’s nerves that affect their behavior.
http://socialpsychonline.com/2015/10/halloween-psychology-self-awareness/
http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2014/01/28/trick-or-treaters-were-the-subject-of-a-psychology-experiment-back-in-1976/
I know they have a film version but here are some website links that explain the case study more in depth.
I would love to view this film too. Based on your summary of the film it reminded me of a vine video. In that video a guy place a jar of money, a sign that say free money take as much as you want and a large picture of a man face looking at them. even though the sign said free money they pass and look and steer straight at the picture of the mans face and didn’t touch the money, not even one person. Then they remove the picture and leave the jar of money and the sign that say free money take as much as you want and everyone started to take the money without any hesitation. I think we as human being tend to not do something we think might be wrong especially if we have a slight idea we are being watch.
RIP VINE, I wanted to see this one.
http://socialpsychonline.com/2015/10/halloween-psychology-self-awareness/
http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2014/01/28/trick-or-treaters-were-the-subject-of-a-psychology-experiment-back-in-1976/
I know they have a film version but here are some website links that explain the case study more in depth.
This is quite interesting, indeed, and I am familiar with this idea and related such studies. And, as everybody knows, this notion that people behave better when they believe they are being watched can be applied to not just the world of documentary filmmaking but also extended to civilized society in general. The Halloween study you mention is a perfect example, and the evidence for this theory is overwhelming. Telling young, impressionable children that someone is always watching them to prevent them from stealing candy is almost always going to work (I say ‘almost’ because there are really smart youngsters out there that are natural born skeptics), whether that someone is Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, or their dead grandma. I suppose the question would be if we ought to tell a young child something like that (which isn’t as innocuous as it may seem), and whether if it’s moral or not.
In terms of people’s behavior when they’re being filmed, I think we can refer to Fredrick Wiseman’s “High School.” While this film is considered “direct cinema,” or, as Wiseman prefers, “observational documentary,” the subjects are nevertheless clearly influenced by his conspicuous 1960’s camera. At times, the conversations the students and teachers have sound so unnatural; it’s as if they’re really bad actors. The adults, however, do a better job acting, presuming that they were trying to, that is.
Professor Anderst mentioned in class that Wiseman was filming in Northeast high school for about 3 weeks, or so, suggesting that the whole school was already used to having a camera around and so the students or faculty members were not acting and must be behaving as they always do because of this. But I don’t know about that because, judging from my own self, no matter how long a camera will be around me, I would still unconciously behave in a manner that I otherwise would not. Wouldn’t you? And I think everyone is like that.
Thanks for posting, it is very interesting and important to consider in relation to documentary films.