Stanford Prison Experiment - In-Depth Notes

Overview of the Stanford Prison Experiment

• Conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford University to explore psychological effects of perceived power.
• 24 male college students were recruited, assigned as either prisoners or guards in a mock prison.

Design of the Experiment

• Participants: Chosen for emotional stability, healthy background, judged to be law-abiding citizens.
• Mock Prison Setup: Located in Stanford's psychology building; designed to resemble actual prisons, with few comforts and strict controls.
• Roles: Randomly assigned; guards wore uniforms and mirrored sunglasses, prisoners wore smocks and ID numbers.

Key Rules Established

• Prisoners had to follow strict rules, maintain silence during designated times, and even identify each other only by ID numbers.
• Guards tasked with maintaining order and enforcing rules without formal training.

Psychological Transformations Observed

• Rapid loss of personal identity among prisoners; physical appearance altered (i.e., shaved heads, monotonous uniforms).
• Over time, guards displayed increasing aggression and authoritarianism; many prisoners became passive due to intense psychological pressure.
  • Example of guard behavior: humiliating prisoners, forcing them to perform degrading tasks.

Dehumanization and Power Dynamics

• Dehumanization: Both guards and prisoners engaged in behaviors dehumanizing the others. Guards gained pleasure from exerting power.
• Arbitrary punishment: Random and inconsistent enforcement of rules contributed to prisoners' feelings of helplessness.
• Emergence of dependency: Increased control by guards led prisoners to become more reliant and submissive.

Significant Incidents

• Rebellion: Occurred within the first week when prisoners united against guards. This prompted severe repression tactics by guards (e.g., use of fire extinguishers).
• Emotional Breakdown: Several prisoners exhibited extreme emotional distress, leading to premature release due to anxiety and depression.

Ethical Implications

• The experiment faced moral scrutiny; terminated after five days instead of planned two weeks due to emotional distress seen in participants.
• Zimbardo noted how normal individuals can commit acts of cruelty when in positions of power.

Impacts of Situational Forces

• Findings highlighted that behavior can be drastically influenced by situational contexts rather than simply personal characteristics.
• Long-term Implications: Suggested the need to recognize and address powerless roles in society, including systemic issues of institutional authority and mental health.

Conclusion of Study

• The experiment serves as a critical examination of how easily individuals can conform to roles that cause them to act against their moral compass.
• It raises fundamental questions about authority, power, and human behavior that are relevant in contemporary contexts, such as prisons, workplaces, and societal structures.
• Zimbardo emphasized societal implications that stem from this study exist beyond just the prison environment, touching on elements of everyday life and relationships.