Stanford Prison Experiment - Edited for the Classroom

Summary

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo in 1971, explored the impact of social situations on individuals. Volunteers were assigned roles as guards or prisoners in a simulated jail. The guards quickly adopted authoritarian behaviors, subjecting prisoners to humiliation and abuse. The experiment, intended to last two weeks, was ended after only six days due to the severe psychological distress it caused the participants. It highlighted the power of authority and the potential for ordinary people to commit cruel acts when placed in certain roles.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The Stanford Prison Experiment was conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford University to study the psychological effects of perceived power on participants.
• 👥 Participants were randomly assigned roles as guards or prisoners, with the guards given uniforms, sunglasses, and nightsticks to establish authority.
• 🔒 The experiment aimed to understand how 'good' people react to an oppressive environment and whether they would conform to the role or resist.
• 👀 Zimbardo was inspired by Stanley Milgram's obedience to authority experiments, which showed that ordinary people could be induced to act against their conscience under orders.
• 📉 The experiment quickly spiraled out of control with guards becoming increasingly abusive and prisoners experiencing severe psychological distress.
• 🚨 The rebellion by prisoners was met with harsher treatment, including solitary confinement and physical and verbal abuse by the guards.
• 🛑 The experiment was originally planned to last two weeks but was ended after only six days due to the extreme emotional and psychological impact on participants.
• 🌐 The experiment highlighted the power of situational forces in shaping behavior, suggesting that 'good' people can be led to act 'evilly' in certain circumstances.
• 📚 The aftermath of the experiment led to significant changes in ethical guidelines for psychological research, emphasizing the need to protect participants from harm.
• 🤔 The experiment raised questions about the nature of human behavior, suggesting that individuals' actions are heavily influenced by their social roles and the environment.
• 🔄 The Stanford Prison Experiment continues to be a subject of debate and discussion in psychology, with implications for understanding group dynamics, authority, and obedience.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The main purpose was to investigate how 'good' people react when placed in an 'evil' environment, specifically to see if the situation or the individual's internal values would dictate their behavior.

Who conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The experiment was conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in 1971.

What roles were the participants assigned in the experiment?

Participants were randomly assigned to be either 'guards' or 'prisoners' within the simulated prison environment.

How did the guards in the experiment dress and what was the effect of their attire?

The guards wore military uniforms and silver reflecting sunglasses to dehumanize them and create a sense of power and anonymity.

What was the 'hole' in the context of the experiment?

The 'hole' was a small, dark solitary confinement area used to punish prisoners within the simulated prison.

What was the reaction of the participants when they were first confined?

One participant described feeling degraded and screamed loudly, expressing extreme upset and a sense of being out of control.

How did the experimenter, Zimbardo, react when the prisoners rebelled?

Zimbardo was initially stunned by the rebellion and responded by escalating the guards' authority and control over the prisoners.

What was the impact of the guards' behavior on the prisoners?

The guards' behavior led to psychological distress among the prisoners, with some showing signs of severe emotional disturbance.

Why did Zimbardo end the experiment early?

Zimbardo ended the experiment early due to the severe psychological effects it was having on the participants and the ethical concerns that arose.

What was the role of the 'snitch' in the experiment?

The 'snitch' was a prisoner who was asked by Zimbardo to provide information about the other prisoners in exchange for preferential treatment.

What were the ethical implications of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The experiment raised significant ethical concerns about the treatment of participants, leading to changes in guidelines for psychological research involving human subjects.

What did the experiment reveal about human behavior?

The experiment showed that people can easily adopt roles and behaviors that are contrary to their personal values when in certain situations, suggesting that the environment can have a powerful influence on behavior.