The Third Wave Experiment
What does it take for the average person to become a Nazi? In 1967, a 25-year-old social studies teacher in Palo Alto, California, conducted an experiment to find out the answer, and was horrified to discover that very little was needed. Trying to explain to his tenth graders the various events that led up to the Holocaust, Ron James decided to show his class how easy it was to become stupefied by charismatic leaders and enticing ideologies. Being a beloved teacher, Jones decided to make himself the leader of his demonstration. After informing the students that they were about to conduct an impromptu "harmless experiment," he began to act more strictly than usual and created a rigid set of rules to be followed in his class. It was supposed to be just for the day, but when he arrived in class the next day, all the students sat neatly at their desks and greeted him in unison. A puzzled but intrigued Jones decided to continue the experiment a little longer. He informed the students that those who would listen to him would automatically receive an "A," and any attempts to oppose him would be marked with a grade of "F." Those who would not play along would be sent to the school library.
Over the next few days, the class lived by Jones's new system, which he called the "Third Wave." He introduced a Nazi-like greeting, even stricter discipline than before, and began to fight against manifestations of democracy. Students made posters with the movement's logo and slogans emphasizing their unity, such as "Strength through Discipline. Jones forbade his students to gather in groups of more than two or three and even stated that Third Wave rules also applied outside school, including at home.
By Day 4, Jones realized he had lost control of the experiment. "Third Wave" was spreading through the school like wildfire, and there were already many more participants than his students. Informants ridiculed other students who broke strict rules, and the resulting atmosphere of fear and insecurity shattered all lines of communication within the student body. Even an active resistance movement emerged.
Jones decided that the experiment had to end, but he wanted it to be done in a beneficial way. He announced that Third Wave was actually part of a larger national movement to announce its presidential candidate, and asked everyone to attend a rally in the hall. When all the members of the new fascist movement gathered in the hall, Jones introduced them to a blank screen. After a few minutes of extremely awkward silence, Jones declared that the whole thing was an experiment in planting the seeds of fascism. He then had everyone watch a film about Nazism.
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