Stuff You Should Know Selects: The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment
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Dec 28, 2024 Dive into a haunting psychological experiment where three men, each believing they are Christ, reveal deep insights about identity and delusion. Explore the ethical dilemmas faced by researchers and the individual struggles of the participants. Delve into the implications of belief in shaping personality while contrasting this unsettling study with lighter topics like gourmet chocolate chip cookies and unique compulsions. The conversation critiques both the film adaptations of these lives and the moral responsibilities of mental health research.
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Name Swap Game
- Rokich called his daughters by each other's names to test identity disruption.
- The girls initially found it funny, but quickly became distressed when he persisted.
Identity Disruption
- Challenging someone's identity, even simply by calling them the wrong name, can cause distress. Rokich learned there are consequences to this, especially for those with stable identities.
Rokich's Rationale
- Rokich believed that experimenting on the mentally unstable was justifiable. He reasoned they had little to lose and potentially much to gain, reflecting the era's disregard for their well-being.