Stanford Prison Experiment

Philip ZimbardoRichard ZhangThink about these thingsWhat happens when you put good people in an evil place?

Does humanity win over evil, or does evil triumph?

Are You capable of evil?Born on March 23, 1933 in the impoverished area of South BronxMajoring in psychology, sociology and anthropologyEarned a B.A.in psychology in 1954 at Brooklyn College1955 M.A. in psychology at Yale university1959 Ph.D.

Philip Zimbardo conducted research in the areas of social-psychology, his most famous study was the Stanford Prison experiment.Philip Zimbardo is know as a situationist for he made major contributions in his research on the topic of how situational factors effect human behaviors.

Good VS EvilGood VS Evil has been a major part of Philip Zimbardos research, it will also become a focus in the study of the Stanford Prison Experiment.Philip Zimbardo specifically focused on how good people turn evil" and the role of situational factors.3 principles of good and evilWhat was the purpose?The Stanford prison experiment was a experiment conducted by Dr. Philip Zimbardo. Its purpose was to research the effect of prison environment on the behavior of people. It was funded by the US government at the time.The Experiment-The Set UpThe experiment began with election of 24 college students from more than 70 students who responded to the newspaper ad. Then after a series of tests 24 students were elected that were recognized to be normal.

Then they were randomly assigned to the either the guards or the prisoners.

A stimulated prison was made in the basement of the Stanford University to be used as the holding place of prisoners in the experiment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TShFPParenkThe Experiment-The Set Up (Continued)The cells were fitted with an intercom system that allowed the research team to analyze the condition of the prisoners. One notable missing feature was the lack of clocks to tell time.

The Experiment-The ArrivalOn a quiet Sunday morning in August, a Palo Alto, California, police car swept through the town picking up collegestudents as part of a mass arrest for violation of Penal Codes 211, Armed Robbery, and Burglary, a 459 PC. The suspect was picked up at his home, charged, warned of his legal rights, spread-eagled against the police car, searched, and handcuffed -- often as surprised and curious neighbors looked on.

What is the Police Officer wearing? Why is it special? How would it make the prisoners feel? How does the entire arrest procedure make the prisoner feel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sYtX2sEaeFEThe Experiment-The Arrival (Continued)Once the prisoners are transported to he prison, they were stripped down, deloused with a spray by the guards. In addition, they were issued uniforms, a Smock and given an ID number to be their identity. The prisoners also wore stocking on their head to stimulate the shave of hair. Why did they do all of this?The whole process is to humiliate and degrade the prisoners and to insert sense of authority.

Consider the psychological consequences of stripping, delousing, and shaving the heads of prisoners or members of the military. What transformations take place when people go through an experience like this?The Experiments-The GuardsGiven no instructions or trainings the guards were told to do what is necessary to keep order.Uniformed khaki, sunglasses and Billy clubs.The guards performed a count every night to insert authority.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x3wxEmHqVCY

The Experiment-The RebellionsDay 2 of the experiment, the prisoners barricade themselves in their cells with their beds blocking the doors, and started to taunt and curse out the guards. This angered the guards. After the rebellion was put down by a fire extinguisher, The guards broke into each cell, stripped the prisoners naked, took the beds out, forced the ringleaders of the prisoner rebellion into solitary confinement, and generally began to harass and intimidate the prisoners. They then decided to use psychological tactics to control the prisoners through the introduction of a privileged cell.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uTdttd7XTfQ

The Experiment-Grievances36 hours in to the experiment prisoner #8612 was released. After suffering from severe stress he broke down and started crying.The following day family visitors came to visit the cells, most were concerned about their child, but however none had challenged the authority by choosing to quit the experiment.

Compare the reactions of these visitors to the reactions of civilians in encounters with the police or other authorities. How typical was their behavior?

The Experiment-The EscapeAfter a rumor of an escape plan, the guards became more frustrated with the prisoners, the guards level of harassment, increased, the level of humiliation to the prisoners increased. They made the prisoners suffer, forcing them to do menial, repetitive work such as cleaning out toilet bowls with their bare hands.As time went on these menial tasks increased to full on sexual harassment and assault.

The Experiment-ConclusionThe experiment was prematurely ended by Philip Zimbardo, due to the objections of Christina Maslach.4 prisoners suffered metal breakdowns, the distinction between reality and the experiment was blurred by everyone, including the researchers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ol1KB-_rIgA

15Key ConceptsObedience- The prisoners did not challenge the power of authority( the guards). They were however trained to be good and submissive while they were the bad ones.Conformity and Deindividuation- the prisoners did not stand up for themselves, instead they went along with what the others did, as did the guards. Power of the situational factors-The guards who started were no different than the prisoners, white, male, college students, committed what was unimaginable actions before the experiment. They turned evil. Under the circumstance of the prison environment and with the power of authority, and the lack of a higher authority.

The Lucifer EffectThe result of the experiment is explain by Dr. Philip Zimbardos Lucifer Effect theory. Names after gods favorite angle Lucifer, much like the story of Lucifer, it explains how a angel is capable of devilish behaviors.Philip Zimbardo believed that ALL are capable of committing evil acts, Good people can turn bad or evil under situational forces. However, one must understand the opposite can also happen

SignificanceThe Stanford Prison Experiment has become one of psychology's most dramatic illustrations of how good people can be transformed into perpetrators of evil, and healthy people can begin to experience pathological reactions - traceable to situational forces. Its messages have been carried in many textbooks in the social sciences, in classroom lectures across many nations, and in popular media renditions. It also provide explanations to the torture of prisoners by the American Military Police army reservists in Abu Ghraib Prison.

Abu GhraibHuman rights abuses by the US military across detention centers in Iraq during 2003Government blamed individuals, calling them sadistic and inhumane. Zimbardo noted similarities between Abu Ghraib and Stanford Prison Experiment, sought to shed light on what happenedAbu Ghraib guards would only abuse prisoners when there was a lack of a higher authority limiting power, usually at nightThe result of a push for results in the search for WMDs and officers of the Taliban.14 soldiers were eventually convicted, dishonorably discharged, and jailed.

CriticsGuards adapted to their roles quicker and more in-depth than expected, leading to dangerous and psychologically damaging situationsScientific controls could not be maintained, as lead researcher, Philip Zimbardo, became too involved and could not remain a neutral observer, possibly influencing the direction of the experiment

Critics (cont.)Prison conditions did not accurately correlate with actual prison conditions. Zimbardo conceded experiment would be difficult to reproduceGroup chosen may have had more aggressive traits such as social dominance due to ad prison life.

Heroic Imagination ProjectAfter years of research on how good people become evil, Philip Zimbardo switches his focus to what makes people good

What do you think of when you hear hero?-Superman?- Firemen?- Sports Star?- Civil Rights Activist?

Heroic Imagination Project (cont.)Anyone can be a heroZimbardo defines a hero as someone who rises to the extraordinary in challenging and stressful times.Furthermore they expect no reward, are humble and do not conformHeroes take the lead and inspire

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