The Stanford Prison Experiment (Summary + Lessons)
Practical Psychology・7 minutes read
The Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford University demonstrated how roles can influence behavior, resulting in escalating abuse and mistreatment among college student participants in a simulated prison environment. The experiment was terminated after six days due to severe psychological effects on participants, sparking controversy over ethical concerns, allegations of coaching, and debates on the validity of the results in psychology.
Insights
- Participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment, such as guard Dave Eshelman, exhibited extreme behaviors due to the power dynamics within the simulated prison environment, highlighting the significant impact of assigned roles on behavior.
- The ethical implications and methodological criticisms of the Stanford Prison Experiment, as noted by Zimbardo himself, have sparked debates in psychology, emphasizing the importance of considering the potential harm and validity of research methods when studying human behavior.
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Recent questions
What was the purpose of the Stanford Prison Experiment?
To explore the influence of roles on behavior.
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Summary
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Stanford Prison Experiment: Role Influence and Controversy
- The Stanford Prison Experiment was conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University to explore the influence of roles on behavior.
- 24 college students were selected to participate, with half assigned as prisoners and the other half as guards, in a simulated prison environment set up in the university basement.
- Guards were given free rein over the prisoners, except for restrictions on physical violence and solitary confinement, leading to escalating abuse and mistreatment.
- The experiment was terminated after six days due to the severe psychological effects on both guards and prisoners, with some participants experiencing breakdowns and threats of self-harm.
- The controversy surrounding the experiment includes ethical concerns about psychological abuse, allegations of coaching participants, and questions about the validity of the results, raising ongoing debates in the field of psychology.
