The Stanford Prison Experiment (Summary + Lessons)

Summary

The Stanford Prison Experiment, a 1971 study led by Philip Zimbardo, aimed to explore the effects of power dynamics by assigning 24 students roles as guards or prisoners in a simulated jail. The experiment was cut short after six days due to severe psychological distress among participants. The film adaptation of the experiment raises questions about the ethics of psychological research and the line between simulation and reality. Critics argue that the experiment's results may have been influenced by researcher guidance, casting doubt on its legitimacy as a psychological study.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The Stanford Prison Experiment movie, released in 2015, is based on the notorious 1971 study that aimed to explore the psychological effects of perceived power and authority.
• 👥 The experiment involved 24 college students, half assigned as 'prisoners' and the other half as 'guards', to observe how roles influence behavior.
• 🏫 Conducted by Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University, the study was designed to last two weeks but was terminated after only six days due to the extreme psychological effects.
• 🔒 The 'prison' was set up in a basement, with participants arrested in public, fingerprinted, and subjected to degrading tasks to simulate a real prison environment.
• ⚖️ Zimbardo and his team played roles within the experiment, including the prison superintendent and parole board members, to maintain the simulation's realism.
• 🚨 Guards quickly began to abuse their power, resorting to physical and psychological abuse, including sleep deprivation and humiliation, leading to the early termination of the experiment.
• 🤯 Prisoner 8612's breakdown, including crying and screaming, was a pivotal moment that highlighted the severity of the psychological distress inflicted.
• 🚨 Zimbardo's girlfriend, a former student, was instrumental in the decision to end the experiment early after witnessing the abuse and threatening to break up with him.
• 🤔 The experiment's ethical considerations have been heavily debated, questioning the limits of subjecting participants to distress for scientific purposes.
• 🗣️ Critics have challenged the authenticity of the study, suggesting that Zimbardo's team coached the guards and that some prisoners may have exaggerated their responses.
• 🔍 The Stanford Prison Experiment has had a lasting impact on psychology, raising questions about power dynamics, obedience, and the ethical conduct of experiments.

Q & A

What is the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The Stanford Prison Experiment was a psychological study conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo to explore the effects of perceived power and authority on human behavior. It involved 24 college students who were randomly assigned roles as prisoners or guards in a simulated prison environment.

Why was the experiment terminated early?

The experiment was terminated after six days instead of the planned two weeks due to the severe psychological effects it had on both the guards and prisoners. The guards began to abuse their power, and the prisoners experienced extreme stress and emotional trauma.

What role did Philip Zimbardo play in the experiment?

Philip Zimbardo played the role of the prison superintendent, overseeing the experiment and ensuring that it was conducted as a realistic simulation.

What were the main rules for the guards during the experiment?

The guards were given free reign over how they treated the prisoners with two main rules: they could not hit the prisoners, and they could not put prisoners in solitary confinement for more than an hour.

How did the guards abuse their power?

The guards used both physical and psychological abuse, including sleep deprivation, degrading tasks, and humiliation, to punish and intimidate the prisoners.

What was the ethical controversy surrounding the experiment?

The ethical controversy arose from the psychological abuse that the prisoners endured, raising questions about the ethics of subjecting human subjects to such distress and trauma for scientific research.

What criticisms have been made about the authenticity of the experiment's results?

Critics have suggested that the results were not as natural as portrayed, with evidence suggesting that Zimbardo's team coached the guards and that some prisoners may have been faking their responses.

How has the Stanford Prison Experiment been compared to real-world situations?

The experiment has been compared to actions at the Abu Ghraib detention center, with Zimbardo himself writing about the case and its parallels to the prison experiment.

What lasting questions does the experiment raise for the field of psychology?

The experiment raises questions about where psychologists should draw the line when it comes to subjecting participants to distress for science, and how easily the lines can be blurred between an experiment, a simulation, or a drama.

What was the role of Zimbardo's girlfriend in ending the experiment?

Zimbardo's girlfriend, who was also his former student, visited the experiment and was horrified by the conditions. She asked Zimbardo to end the experiment immediately, which he did on the sixth day.

How has the Stanford Prison Experiment impacted the understanding of power dynamics and obedience?

The experiment demonstrated how quickly people can abuse power when given authority, but it also raised more questions than it answered about power dynamics and obedience, leading to ongoing debates within the field of psychology.