Stanford Prison Experiment

Overview

• Conducted by Professor Philip Zimbardo in August 1971.
• Aimed to investigate power dynamics between guards and inmates.
• Funded by the US Office of Naval Research to explore military prison hierarchies.
• Became controversial and suggested dark insights into human nature.

Objectives

• Determine if guard brutality is due to the acquisition of power or inherent in human nature.
• Assess if prison dynamics are shaped by environment or personality of the guards.

Setup

• Mock prison environment established in Stanford's Jordan Hall basement.
• Involved 24 male college students, all white, chosen after screening for mental and physical health.
• Students were randomly assigned as prisoners or guards via coin toss.

Experiment Details

• Guards: Wore prison guard uniforms, carried nightsticks, and mirrored sunglasses.
• Prisoners: Dressed in numbered smocks, chained, and addressed by numbers.
• Mock arrests made by Palo Alto Police Department.
• Guards instructed to maintain order by any means necessary, except physical violence.

Events During Experiment

• Initial Rebellion: Prisoners barricaded themselves, resulting in guard retaliation with fire extinguishers.
• Dehumanization Tactics: Segregation into privilege cells, denial of basic needs, and forced use of in-cell buckets.
• Escalation: Guards increased aggression, leading to prisoner submission and emotional breakdowns.

Key Incidents

• Prisoner Doug Corpy: Emotional breakdown led to early release.
• Breakdown of Prisoner 819: Required intervention and eventual release.

Conclusion

• Experiment ended on the sixth day following observation by Christina Maslach.
• Prompted Zimbardo to recognize internalized role as superintendent.
• Raised questions about ethical standards and scientific validity.

Controversy and Criticism

• Results difficult to replicate, questioning scientific rigor.
• Zimbardo admitted it was more demonstration than a scientific experiment.
• Critiques suggest guards were influenced by instructions from researchers.

Reflection

• Zimbardo's introspection on his behavior and role in the experiment.
• Ongoing debates on ethical implications and true insights from the study.

Discussion

• Encouragement for audience reflection on personal response if involved in the study.

These notes summarize the key points and events of the Stanford Prison Experiment as presented in the lecture. It captures the setup, proceedings, controversies, and conclusions drawn from the study.