Stanford Prison Experiment Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Stanford University, Northern California, 1971.
• Notorious for an experiment in psychology testing the impact of placing good people in an evil place.
• Conducted by Philip Zimbardo to test if situational factors could control behavior more than personal values.

Experiment Setup

• Basement of the university's psychology department converted into a jail.
• Prison cells: three office cells with beds and little room.
• Solitary confinement area was dark and small.
• Guards wore military uniforms and reflective sunglasses to dehumanize their appearance.

Influence from Previous Research

• Stanley Milgram's experiment on authority and obedience.
• Participants administered electric shocks under perceived authority.
• Milgram's findings showed even decent people could commit acts against their conscience.

Conducting the Experiment

• Participants: 24 male college students, screened for psychological health, paid $15/day.
• Randomly assigned the role of guard or prisoner.
• Prisoners were arrested, stripped, deloused, and given ID numbers.
• Guards instructed to maintain law and order without physical violence.
• Prisoners' rebellion led to harsher treatments by guards.

Escalation of Abuse

• Guards began psychological torture, waking prisoners at odd hours and enforcing tasks.
• Prisoner 8612 displayed severe stress and was eventually released.
• Increasing brutality from guards, led by a particularly sadistic guard nicknamed "John Wayne."

Ethical Concerns

• Participants felt trapped; guards escalated punishments to maintain control.
• Zimbardo lost objectivity, acting as prison superintendent instead of a psychologist.
• Zimbardo ended the experiment after interventions and ethical concerns rose.

Results and Implications

• Demonstrated how situational pressures can lead individuals to act against their morals.
• Comparison to historical events (e.g., Nazi Regime) in understanding human behavior.
• Prompted changes in ethical guidelines for psychological research.
• Highlighted the ease of deindividuation and the abdication of personal responsibility.

Reflections and Criticisms

• Participants took their roles seriously, leading to real psychological impacts.
• Debate on the ethics of the study; Zimbardo's dual role questioned.
• "John Wayne" guard's reflection on his behavior and motivations.
• Importance of understanding human behavior to prevent future atrocities.

Conclusion

• The Stanford Prison Experiment remains a significant study in psychology.
• Continues to be a point of discussion regarding ethics, authority, and human behavior.
• Offers insights into the balance of power and the potential for cruelty under certain conditions.