The Stanford Prison Experiment (A Shocking Psychological Experiment)

The Stanford Prison Experiment was a notorious psychological study conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University. The aim was to investigate how social situations can influence human behavior, particularly focusing on the dynamics of power and authority.
In this experiment, Zimbardo and his team created a simulated prison environment in the basement of the Stanford psychology building. They recruited 24 mentally stable, college-aged men who were randomly assigned to play the roles of either prisoners or guards. The participants were selected through a rigorous screening process to ensure they were psychologically stable and capable of handling the experiment's demands.
The mock prison was designed to mimic a real prison as closely as possible. The prisoners were assigned numbers instead of names, had to wear makeshift uniforms, and were subjected to strict rules and regulations. The guards, on the other hand, were given uniforms, batons, and instructed to maintain order within the prison.
Initially, both groups approached their roles in a playful manner, not fully grasping the seriousness of the experiment. However, within a very short time, the situation escalated dramatically. The guards began to exert their authority in increasingly harsh and dehumanizing ways, while the prisoners started to display signs of distress and rebellion.
The guards implemented tactics such as physical punishment, psychological manipulation, and sleep deprivation to assert control over the prisoners. This behavior led to a rapid deterioration of mental and emotional well-being among the prisoners. Some prisoners even began to show signs of extreme stress and emotional breakdowns.
Zimbardo, who was playing the role of the prison superintendent, became so engrossed in the experiment that he failed to notice the ethical boundaries being crossed. It wasn't until the intervention of Christina Maslach, a graduate student and Zimbardo's future wife, that the experiment was halted after just six days instead of the planned two weeks.
The Stanford Prison Experiment raised significant ethical concerns about the treatment of participants in psychological research. Critics argued that the study inflicted psychological harm on its participants and failed to protect their well-being adequately. Despite these criticisms, the experiment remains a pivotal moment in psychology, highlighting the powerful influence of social situations on human behavior and the importance of ethical considerations in research.
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[@marias3210]

This is very interesting. Amazing how it only took 6 days. Thank you for another great video

[@EngineeringMadeEasy]

You are welcome Marias. I am glad, you liked it. 😊❤🙏

[@charithaw4232]

Amazing!
Thank you 🙏

[@EngineeringMadeEasy]

You are welcome Charitha 🙏😊

[@CartoonMandates]

Nice overview of the experiment - what was your opinion on his from your point of view? Is the pursuit of knowledge ever a justification to inhuman treatment? What is the line drawn if any?

[@JuliaClark]

Great thumb 💅. Remember you can go back and change titles and thumb nails to boost views. ❤

[@EngineeringMadeEasy]

Thanks ❤ Yes I got it. Thanks for your kind suggestion 🙏😊

[@guldenaydin9918]

🌹

[@EngineeringMadeEasy]

Thanks ❤