Derren Brown – The Guilt Trip: Tonight at 9pm Ch4
Just a little reminder that the third episode in ‘The Experiments’ series airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
Leave your thoughts on the show in the comments section below, or click here to watch a sneak preview 🙂
An emotional yet amazing experiment. It’s fascinating to watch how it all comes together. Who else on tv can get place you on an 60 minute emotional rollercoaster like that ? As for ‘upset’ well, don’t like it don’t watch it. , keep the good work up Derren.
Gratz on another thought provoking show.
I think the most important lesson to learn is how people can be open to manipulation using some straight forward strategies – and it is very educational to show behind the curtain and see how these methods could be used for bad rather than good and fixing Little Johnny’s fear of flying.
Each week you mention one sentence that implies this is being used by the criminal underworld – I can’t help but think you are trying to tell us something and to be vigilant!
It’s the un-ethical stuff that sets Derren Brown apart from the rest but there’s no way he’d allow any of his shows to permanently damage anyone. As for the show itself, not one of his best. All the subtle ‘guilt’ set up tricks seemed a bit pointless once they’d carried him outside. Any genuinely nice and honest person waking up outside with no memory after a nights drinking would panic and question themselves on finding a murder has been committed without the need of a bell chime or finding a necklace in your room etc
If you read Derren Brown’s book, Tricks of the Mind, you will see that he is incredibly thorough about vetting people and never uses any subjects with a history of mental illness.
And as people have said, people sign up for this. I’m a Yank, but I was under the impression that Derren is hugely famous in the UK and people know what they’re in for. I would never sign up, and that’s my personal decision.
Finally, I don’t know what people mean by “a real professional would never do this”–a real professional what? He’s not a doctor or a scientist and has never claimed to be one; he’s an entertainer.
I’m glad he was okay with it.
Also.
TIM MINCHIN.
He was also the perfect kind of person to be on there, because although he could possibly be nothing like this in real life, how he comes across is an insanely nice person who would take offensiveness to heart. Frankly, he’d be the last person in the world I’d want to offend.
One more thing–I know a little something about how corporations work, and if you don’t think Channel Four or their parent company, if there is one (sorry, I’m not from your country so I’m unfamiliar) has experts on hand to make sure everything is safe and to prevent lawsuits, you’re crazy.
Obviously he didn’t sign up for this specific task, or it wouldn’t work. But he signed up to participate in a setup, because that’s what Derren Brown does.
Where was Mrs. Peacock? Her omission was an absolute disgrace. I will never watch your show again. Never!!
But seriously, I thought it was a very good show. Entertaining and thought provoking, as always. I wouldn’t be worried about Jody suffering any psychological after-effects, either. He would have been assessed by a psychologist before taking part to make sure he could handle the stress, and he only did what any rational person would do in that situation. Making someone confess to a murder they didn’t commit sounds crazy, but if that someone has been subjected to a barrage of false information & everyone around him is encouraging him to think a certain way, the idea of his confessing doesn’t seem all that crazy at all. It just shows that Jody has a strong moral compass.
A great show as usual, although im slightly dubious about the ending… if they didnt know Jody was coming to the police station how is it that they had the station set up, with the car outside, the police actors inside with the photos of the murder, the cameras rolling inside the interview room and the crew waiting outside and all with champaign?
You said it @Jessika. These shows are glimpses into things that aren’t just entertainment-based. There are many levels within this work. Elements of each episode are flawed and at times heavy-handed, but mostly the episodes are layered and subtler than they seem. Though I love Derren’s fluffier work, I also love that he has the courage to investigate the darker psyche. Aftercare is king though.
Look, when you sign up for a Derren Brown show your signing a deal with the devil himself.
Someone who is actually a fan (much like Jody) would know this, and of course not take the decision lightly, and take into account different possibilities. He has also been checked before the show to see is he is mentally robust enough to cope with this, and surely get counselling afterwards.. So I don’t really see the problem..
Bring on the Scottish accents, Cluedo charachters and murder!
Really enjoyed this episode, and all the experiments so far, would just like to point out that A) If Jody hadn’t wanted it televised then it wouldnt have been, B) “Upset” clearly hasnt watched a lot of Derren as he cant even spell his name right and C) the idea of the shows are to show how far the mind can be moulded and tricked, all the participants have signed up for it, know what theyre going in for, and are also psychologically examined before, after and sometimes during, depending on the experiment.
wow! tonight’s show was amazing, true genius! at time I felt so bad for the guy and felt maybe pushed the ethical boundary but was amazed that he just could believe in his own fabrication of events! thanks and don’t mind rape me.
@Tim And well said, Tim. Spot on I think.
Sorry usually a big fan but found the whole show negative and pretty poor…kept waiting for the ‘twist’ but it never came just watching an hour of someone going through hell being convinced they’d killed someone whilst drunk. Awful
Hmmm, very very very interesting. I personally think the fact that he was drunk off his head and woke up in a field had a big thing to do with it. I personally would think “crap what did i do last night?!” I dont think the conditioning would have worked that much.
whatever, amazing show. feel very bad for that guy.
Darren Browne is discgusting and is unethical and dangerous! Darren Brawn should stop and think about the children! I think Derran Blue should be ashamed of him and he is a bad man!!! Shame on you Deacon Blue for making man cry. Silly thing and dangerous hypnotist!
Seems varying differences of opinion on here over whether this show was cruel to Jody in the name of entertainment or was a brilliantly executed experiment in how we can be manipulated in thinking we’ve done something we haven’t.
I did find it very cleverly done. In fact as I was watching, I even found myself feeling guilty too. Maybe because I was watching through the hidden cameras eyes, perhaps? As it went on, I did feel it was getting a little macabre and I felt deeply uneasy seeing poor Jody actually shed tears just after he’d admitted to a murder he didn’t know if he’d committed or not.
So, it says something about Jody’s courage and Derren’s expertise that the pay-off at the end was worth the wait and made the whole show very interesting & worthwhile.
Thank you,
LC x
I loved tonight’s show and the use of Cluedo character names within it. I’ve been reading through the comments and was wondering how Jody must have felt while this was all going on, because though he knew later it was Derren’s show, at the time he didn’t. He didn’t know he was participating in anything until the reveal. What a horrible feeling to think you have killed someone. I know I wouldn’t have been so forgiving. I think I just might have killed someone!!! 🙂
Then again reading back my comment to myself I feel a tiny bit guilty as I sat and watched this poor man suffer, and maybe that it is the point. I was the one suffering the ‘guilt trip’!!
left feeling empty about the difference between truth and reality, when someone so nice is manipulated to believe something opposed to their personality. Can’t see how things can ever be the same for him. I know he signed up for the show, hope good will outright.
Can I also just quickly say a big thank you & well done to Derren and everyone else involved. Am guessing a lot of work goes into these productions and it’s not gone unnoticed. x
LC x
I’ve loved all of the experiments so far (also was just giggling at the Cluedo reference in the beginning :D)! Jody seemed so delighted in the end so I think he’ll be able to take this as a positive. People should take his word for it and stop with this patronising attitude towards him (and lecturing Derren about ethics when he himself is such a nice guy). Still, it was very interesting that one could actually get someone to admit a murder they didn’t commit. Just makes me wonder how often this happens in the real world with more guilt-inducing and longer interrogations!
You have people questioning the ethics of this experiment. The vary best, most accurate experiments, are usually unethical, however very necessary. Jodi wanted to take part in one of Derren Brown’s shows. He got to meet his idol along the way, and have a funny story to tell his friends about him.
Yes, he was guilt tripped into thinking that he had committed a murder, but when you consider the electric shock psychology experiment in which there were people that had to turn up the shock voltage and shock them every time they got a wrong answer, this really isn’t that bad. Thumbs up Derren! Don’t pay attention to the winers, they merely do not understand the necessity of such experiments.
Absolutely gripping and fascinating piece this week! A great concept, and excellently carried out too! On some of Derren’s shows, I wonder if the subjects are kindof subconsciously playing along, and if they’ve noticed they are actually on a Derren show, but Jody clearly had no-idea about that. Great stuff !!!
I have done a second video message to you Derren Please let me know you have got it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvOBXiAkipE&list=PL96DDD07BB401B49B&feature=plpp_play_all
Msg from Abeo: I’ve sent you an email 🙂
Jody was not SET UP for the murder episode. I have recieved an app form for his shows and it doesn’t state whatsoever the content of the show you’re are applying for but whoever applies will be willing to participate in whatever it entails even if they aren’t aware. I’m sure this is checked over as they go through each applicant.
If Jody or any other of the heros were stolen from their beds at night and didn’t know who Derren Brown or even what Channel 4 was then maybe that’d be a touch dodgy.
I find Derrens TV and Live shows some of the most interesting, thought provoking and most importantly amusing forms of entertainment out there. If you don’t like it then don’t watch, leave it to his fans and people who understand his acts to participate in and enjoy his work.
Woww. Best in the series. Derren, you are one of a kind. Incredible.. absolutely fantastic!!!
I, actually, felt that the show failed to address how false confessions usually are arrived at (i.e. more through interrogation grind, and so on, rather than quasihipnotic devices), although, I suppose it is debatable whether, in this case, there’s an interchangeability between the two, and that all the trickery played upon the victim counts as such mental exhaustion.
But regardless of that question, I do feel that this episode crossed an ethical line and that it might have resulted in lasting psychological damage to the victim (though he, himself, may deny it).
I will continue to watch this and other Derren Brown shows, and remain a fan of his extraordinary craft and skill set. But that doesn’t change this episode constituting an ethical breach for him, by him.
Found this one quite upsetting, I really felt for Jody. Would really like to know that he was ok afterwards.
I’m curious about how/if you attempt to assess whether applicants for the show might have sociopathic/narcissistic/etc disorders as apparently even psychiatrists can’t always diagnose them and with both this and the first episode they would make a difference to the results.
I’m a long time fan of yours Derren so it genuinely pains me to suggest that this “Experiments” series, while fascinating, is bordering on cruel and unethical.
I walked away from the game show rather than watch the victim be subjected to more abuse. I honestly can’t tell if I’m more uncomfortable watching the additional cruelties befalling the victim or watching the audience being subtly encouraged to vote to put the screws to him. In much the same vein I felt terrible watching Jody be so cruelly manipulated.
Some may contend that we’re only troubled by the image we see in the mirror you’re holding up. Alas, I think humanity’s ability to execute cruelty on one another is sadly very well documented already and hardly qualifies as entertainment. Please, you’re better than this
Fantastic show : ) DB looked a little concerned for Jody at one point which was nice though obviously DB would have known exactly how things could go and the possible reactions. I hope Jody feels proud for behaving in such a manner and sure DB and the team will have made his head better straight afterwards. The Tim c**t =ace haha.
Any chance DB can write a book on cards for beginners? One that shows you how to shuffle. (#52 fan)
Well done – great episode.
This highlighted a very important aspect of our psyche and how it can be easily manipulated. As mentioned by DB, organised religion has been built on the back of this and thrived for far too long…
The Cluedo cast and setting were a very nice touch and the scenes where Jody was made to doubt his memory were wickedly funny!
At the end, the literal tearing aside of the veil and what we saw I the deprogramming more than satisfy me that Jody will enjoy this as much as the rest of us.
It’s funny because I hated the first two episodes, particulary throwing ‘acid’ in someones face but I just felt that the Jody one was managed really carefully and very good, in comparison. It’s still not up to a proper psychological experiment but it’s interesting viewing. Nothing has beaten the heist or zombie yet!
Uncomfortable in parts, but the end was so great and made me cry. I seriously need to man up.. I cried at The Assassin too. Jody was such a lovely person I felt sorry for him when he was getting upset. X Judith X
i have to admit im in two minds about the show from yesterday, disgust and guilt from the way such a nice ordinary guy was convinced, and the way he was so torn up about something he hadnt dont done. one the other hand it was amazing!! how convincingly he was tricked and the way he was tricked, i was on tenderhooks for the entire show! fantastic.
i was reminded about a case from the 1950’s where a man was convicted and killed via corporal puishment due to police coertion and mental instabilty and admited to killing his wife and child…
fantastic but unerving.
don’t know maybe I’m am the ultimate skeptic.#Seems like there was logical disconnects to me. why did they build a fake police station if he was meant to give the confession in the show in the house. And then he conveniently goes to said police station and everyone’s there and there is also a bar for drinks lol yeah right
Why did we not see him query the bell sound? Or if he did, what did they tell him it was for?
I suspect claims of a village containing a Post Office and a Police Station would have alerted some of us to a somewhat questionable actuality. Not to say, a certain proximity to a possible parallel reality. An acquaintance was enumerating to me recently, how he and a friend had comprehensively failed in their attempts to hoodwink the lie-detector app supplied free with his new mobile telephone. It would seem that this handheld technology has arrived not a moment too soon. Oh! and apropos the party political system. RIP.
This series of programmes appears to be a ‘limited hangout’ for the targeted individual system. Targeted individuals (please google it) are a section of society who are victimized by the security forces, who use them for experiments involving microwave weapons and exotic poisons, and to develop and test new operational strategies and techniques, and to train new intelligence personnel.
The previous programme in this series appeared to involve techniques known to TIs as ‘gaslighting’ (secret burglaries) and ‘gang stalking’ (the public victimization activities).
This programme deals with the inculcation of guilty mental states in a targeted individual, to create doubt in his mind and susceptibility to brainwashing. This experience is routine for targeted individuals.
What’s so great about shows like this is that they don’t NEED to go through ethical committees which means they can literally do anything – if I went to uni and asked to do something like this it would be shot down straight away – this is the ONLY way we can see human behaviour at its worst and best nowadays. Yes its unethical but people are screened in about 7 different ways to see if they’re suggestible, OCD (not that that matters), and if they can cope with the kind of trauma they’re about to be put through – why do you think they interview them, follow them and speak to their families before they actually accept anyone? And doing it to ‘people who aren’t nice?’ like that’s any more ethical than this? Like many people have said people apply themselves to the show – no one forces them.
Brilliant show last night, Jody was so taken in on the whole situation right from the onset of the show. You could see the relief on his face when he was told and shown that it was al made up. Looking forward to the next program on Friday.
If last week was my least favourite of Derren et al’s work, I think this was one was of their best. Yes, some ethical concerns but I felt it was more like ‘an experiment’ than last week. Really fascinating and thoroughly entertaining.
I did feel for Jody though – even for those few hours, it must have been torture. I imagine he would have had all the support he needed though.
I just came to know about you yesterday night while I was just randomly checking YouTube for some stuff on human mind and how to boost your mind power, & I came through your videos on YouTube, and believe me Derren you have blown me completely away with your sincerity, charm-fullness, and enigmatic personality, and believe me since yesterday I have watched more than a dozen of your videos. You opened my eyes towards religion as well, the faith healers video wow man, I salute you and I AM A FAN FOR LIFE OF YOU and I wish one day I meet you in person, & see you & feel you and watch you perform. I am lamenting why I was so unaware of you earlier, may be because of our geographical thing, but anyhow I am gonna stick to you for life, please come to India once, with tons of love & respect.
Definitely uncomfortable viewing but that was certainly the point. An excellently conceived and presented exploration of how comparatively simple it can be to create feelings of guilt strong enough to prompt a confession to something as serious as a murder. As has been said before, imagine how much stronger the influence of family, religion or peer pressure must be. Thank you for a hugely thought provoking show – looking forward to more!
PS I’m intriugued by @Upset’s idea that ‘it is not entertainment to watch someone suffer’ – I trust he/she is similarly critical of all reality & talent shows which are based entirely upon the overwhelming evidence that it is…
Derren…the work you are doing is pure brilliance, on a level above all who have come before you. You are doing a great job, keep it up. This is such important and valuable work in the grander scheme of things and you are a pioneer in raising awareness of the techniques used for such dramatic effect. The power of the mind is far too often misunderstood and underestimated in modern culture, it can be both beautiful and unbearable. No matter how hard you try you can never escape your own mind, there is no retreat, no reprieve and your work proves to the general public just how vulnerable and suggestible the mind is to those with the power to exploit it. Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm in this awe-inspiring subject. n/
Great show! I swear though — what is with all the flippin’ Psychological Protection Police? In the first couple minutes of the show Derren says that Jody had seen his shows and knew what he might be getting into (when he originally auditioned and was led to think he didn’t make it) and that he was screened to make sure that he could take it psychologically. The point , as has been said again and again, was to show how even the nicest person can be made to believe he’s guilty of something he didn’t do. By virtue of the fact that Jody auditioned to take part in a Derren Brown show, knowing full well how those can go, he required no convincing to make him glad he had participated. He was genuinely happy to learn he was on one of Derren’s shows — that’s why he had auditioned! He’s fine!
Wow such mixed comments. Deren brown is amazing but if he were a psychologist he would be facing some difficult ethics comities.
This is the first show of his that I have ever felt uncomfortable watching. Ethically I feel this was wrong even though the participant was happy at the end and the debrief was spectacular. Milgram and zimbardo both proformed experiments that would fit today’s tv but a psychologist would not get them past a contempory ethics comity.
How acceptable it is to cause someone distress in the name of research is heavily scrutinised but the use of psychology for entertainment does not seem to be which concerns me.
Another thing that disturbed me about the series is that I feel that the 2nd episode almost primed me for such shocking treatment of an individual but then maybe I’m giving too much credit to derren and the producers :/
So many people here are criticising the view that last night’s show was unethical, but I personally think that despite the fact that Jody applied to be on Derren’s show, this is still no excuse to emotionally destroy him on national television, conducting a psychological experiment on him to make a ‘good show’ and make people think a bit about how we can be manipulated. In my opinion, the experiments of the past few weeks have gone much too far.
Also, we all know reality shows do the same thing. perhaps even on a bigger scale. However, people apply to take part in them too, so does that mean that many posters on here believe the degradation of contestants on these shows is fine too?
I thought it was a fantastic show. I also think that we, the audience, were the intended guilt trip target, along with Jody. It seems like the mind-twisting thing Derren would do, and made a very good point about how it is possible to make someone admit to a crime they didn’t even do!
Did anyone else notice how when Jody and the victim were about to play croquet the other guy said ‘pick up your weapons’, referring to the bats, and that the guy was killed with a croquet bat? Very cleverly slipped in there 🙂
Great show, as always 🙂
Excellent. I feel sorry for this guy too but at the end he consider this experience as a good one and was happy to be part of the show. Besides, people who want to be on Derren Brown shows should expect something like this. But he felt guilty, because he was convinced that he did it and he was genuine guy. I think it works only with people who are just good in live, who do the right thing. And it was fantastic to see that.
What I didn’t like is to show religion as a thing that creat guilt. Guilt is not always wrong.