The Stanford Prison Experiment was a social psychology study that involved college students being prisoners or guards in a simulation prison. Philip G., principal investigator, was concerned about the escalating abuse of prisoners. Only six days after starting the experiment, Zimbardo ended it.
The Stanford Prison Experiment
According to Zimbardo and his colleagues, the Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrates the powerful role that the situation can play in human behavior. Because the guards were placed in a position of power, they began to behave in ways they would not usually act in their everyday lives or other situations.
To study the roles people play in prison situations, Zimbardo converted a basement of the Stanford University psychology building into a mock prison. He advertised asking for volunteers to participate in a study of the psychological effects of prison life.
Which BEST describes the Stanford Prison Experiment? The Stanford Prison Experiment was a classic study in which students played the roles of prisoners and guards in a simulated prison.
According to Zimbardo and his colleagues, the Stanford Prison Experiment revealed how people will readily conform to the social roles they are expected to play, especially if the roles are as strongly stereotyped as those of the prison guards.
What was the Stanford Prison Experiment? An experiment that simulated prison life, where boys were randomly separated into prisoners and guards. The guards were told to maintain order in the prison.
Set up a privilege cell. The three prisoners least involved in the rebellion were in the privilege cell. They were given back their beds, clothes, were allowed to wash and brush their teeth, while others couldn't. They were also allowed special meals, eating in front of other prisoners.
A new prisoner, introduced after one left, went on a hunger strike to be released. After not giving in to the guards, he was put into solitary confinement for 3 hours , even though the limit was 1. Prisoners were told that the new prisoner would be let out of solitary, if they agreed to give up their blankets.
They were chanting, as instructed by the guards, "Prisoner #819 did a bad thing". When Zimbardo heard this, he went back to the room, and found 819 crying. Zimbardo offered to let him out of the experiment. but he said that he had to go back and prove that he wasn't a bad prisoner. Zimbardo reminded him of his name, not his number, the experiment, ...
This was designed to make the prisoners feel emasculated and humiliated, while the chain was used to create a feeling of oppressiveness.