Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

Researcher led a thought experiment that revealed the transformative power of social roles

In 1971, Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted a groundbreaking experiment that forever changed our understanding of human behavior. The Stanford Prison Experiment was designed to study the effects of social roles on behavior, and it has since become one of the most famous and controversial experiments in psychology.

The Experiment

Zimbardo and his team randomly assigned 24 male college students to play the roles of either prisoners or guards in a simulated prison environment. The prison was set up in the basement of the Stanford psychology building, and it was designed to be as realistic as possible. The prisoners were given uniforms, ID numbers, and cells, and the guards were given uniforms and billy clubs.

The experiment was scheduled to last two weeks, but it was stopped after just six days due to the extreme psychological distress experienced by the participants. The guards had become increasingly aggressive and sadistic, and the prisoners had become increasingly passive and submissive.

The Results

The Stanford Prison Experiment revealed the powerful effects of social roles on behavior. The participants quickly adopted the roles that they were assigned, and they began to behave in ways that were consistent with those roles. The guards became more authoritarian and aggressive, while the prisoners became more submissive and dependent.

The experiment also showed that the power of social roles can override individual personality traits. Some of the participants who were assigned to play the role of guards were normally kind and compassionate people, but they became cruel and abusive when they were given the power to do so.

The Stanford Prison Experiment has been criticized for its lack of scientific rigor. The experiment was not controlled, and the participants were not randomly assigned to the roles of guards and prisoners. However, the experiment has had a profound impact on our understanding of human behavior. It has shown that social roles can have a powerful effect on our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The Legacy

The Stanford Prison Experiment is still debated today, but there is no doubt that it has had a lasting impact on psychology. The experiment has been used to explain a wide range of social phenomena, from bullying to genocide. It has also been used to develop new interventions to reduce violence and promote peace.

The Stanford Prison Experiment is a reminder that we all have the potential to be both good and evil. The roles that we play in society can shape our behavior, and it is important to be aware of the power of those roles.