What Was Vault 33 Experiment

Caroline Mae

2 min read

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28-12-2024

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Vault 33, one of the many fallout shelters built by the Vault-Tec Corporation before the Great War, wasn't designed for typical societal preservation experiments. Instead, it served as a unique, and ethically dubious, laboratory for a very specific study: the effects of prolonged isolation and enforced monogamy on a small, tightly controlled population.

The Setup: A Controlled Environment

Unlike other Vaults with diverse populations and ostensibly random selections, Vault 33's inhabitants were meticulously chosen couples, all seemingly healthy and deemed “genetically superior” by Vault-Tec standards. The experiment's primary goal was to observe the psychological and societal ramifications of extremely limited social interaction and the enforced creation of families within a confined space. Resources were carefully rationed, fostering competition and dependency within the tightly knit community.

The Experiment's Core Hypothesis:

Vault-Tec's hypothesis centered around the idea that creating a genetically homogenous, closely-knit community under pressure would yield superior societal outcomes. This stemmed from a flawed understanding of eugenics and a naive belief in the predictability of human behavior under extreme conditions. The experiment aimed to prove that these artificially created families, bound by necessity and enforced relationships, would create a more stable and productive society than a larger, more diverse population.

The Results: A Twisted Reality

While the exact outcomes of Vault 33's experiment are not fully documented, available accounts paint a bleak picture of societal breakdown. Evidence suggests that the carefully constructed environment fostered paranoia, resentment, and violence amongst the inhabitants. The forced monogamy led to many instances of domestic abuse and strained relationships, directly contradicting the anticipated harmony. The limited resources further exacerbated these issues, leading to widespread conflict and a breakdown of social order.

Failure to Achieve Desired Outcomes:

The experiment fundamentally failed to achieve its stated goals. The inhabitants did not create a stable, productive, or utopian society as hypothesized. Instead, the closed environment and forced relationships generated a toxic atmosphere of suspicion and unrest. This dramatically contrasts with the utopian society envisioned by Vault-Tec.

Ethical Implications: A Legacy of Questionable Science

Vault 33's experiment represents a stark example of the ethical failures of Vault-Tec's research. The deliberate manipulation of human lives for scientific gain is undeniably reprehensible. The experiment underscores the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition and highlights the critical need for ethical oversight in scientific endeavors. The lack of informed consent and the inherent risks to the inhabitants raise serious questions about the ethical standards of the time—or indeed, any time. The story of Vault 33 remains a cautionary tale, emphasizing the profound importance of responsible scientific conduct and respect for human dignity.