The Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment was conducted at Stanford University between August 14–20, 1971, by a research group led by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo using college students and takes its place in the history even though it was a failure. Even though the entire experiment failed, but the experiment’s result contributed an insight into human psychology and social behavior. It aims to test the hypothesis that the intrinsic personality traits of prisoners and guards are the cause of abusive behavior in prison. The experiment shows the reality of systematic abuse and violating the human rights in any prison facility.

They selected 24 males whom they consider to be the most psychologically stable and healthy. Those college students were questioned about their family background, physical and mental-health histories, and social behavior and the results were ‘normal’ as stated. The Stanford Prison Experiment showed the dark and inhuman side of human nature that we are capable to do what we didn’t expect that we could do.

As they were into the roles of Prisoner and Guard and put in a prison-like environment in the basement of the Psychology Department at Stanford University, the guards humiliated and abused the prisoners. The prisoners became submissive and they were abused by the guard to the point that the experiment should be at least two weeks but it had to be terminated after only six days. Being part of the authority somehow affects our behavior, they think like they are the superior or they have the right to do what they want to do to the people. It does make sense that when you have the authority or power, the tendency is we are abusing the power that we have.

Somehow, the Stanford County Prison manipulated the environment. It shows like the experiment was real and the guards and prisoners just acted by how their roles were presented. Based on my understanding about the experiment, its goal is to really show the ways