The Stanford Prison Experiment
In 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted a controversial study known as The Stanford Prison Experiment. The study aimed to investigate the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard.
Twenty-four male college students were randomly assigned to play the roles of prisoners or guards in a simulated prison environment. The experiment was supposed to last for two weeks, but it had to be terminated after only six days due to the extreme behavior exhibited by the participants.
The guards quickly became abusive and authoritarian, while the prisoners suffered from psychological distress and emotional breakdowns. The study revealed the power of situational factors in influencing human behavior, as seemingly normal individuals took on roles that led to dehumanization and cruelty.
The Stanford Prison Experiment remains a controversial and widely discussed study in the field of psychology, raising ethical concerns about the treatment of participants in research studies.