Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

• Aimed to investigate how people conform to roles of guard and prisoner in a simulated prison environment
• Explored whether the brutality reported among guards in American prisons is due to sadistic personalities or the prison environment

Experimental Design

• Converted a Stanford University basement into a mock prison
• Advertised for students to play roles of prisoners and guards for a fortnight
• 21 male college students were selected from 75 volunteers and paid $15 per day
• Participants were randomly assigned to either prisoner or guard roles

Prison Simulation

• Prisoners were arrested at their homes, taken to a police station, and then to the mock prison
• Guards were issued khaki uniforms, whistles, handcuffs, and dark glasses to prevent eye contact with prisoners
• No physical violence was permitted

Deindividuation Process

• Prisoners were stripped naked, deloused, and had personal possessions removed
• They were issued prison clothes and bedding, and referred to by their number only
• Guards began to harass prisoners within hours, adopting brutal and sadistic behaviors
• Prisoners soon adopted prisoner-like behavior, discussing prison issues and telling on each other to the guards

Relationships Between Guards and Prisoners

• Guards became more derisive and contemptuous towards prisoners as they became more dependent
• Prisoners became more submissive as guards' contempt grew, trying to please them by telling on fellow prisoners
• Guards demanded greater obedience from prisoners, who were dependent on them for everything