Stanford Prison Experiment Or: Never volunteer for a psychology experiment!

Step into my laboratory… 70 college aged students apply for psych experiment 24 healthy subjects chosen Subjects are randomly assigned positions as guard or prisoner

Arrested! “Prisoners” arrested without warning for robbery as families and neighbors watch. Taken to jail in the back of a police car

Mug Shots: that’s fun! Handcuffed “criminals” are taken to the basement of the psych building, which has been turned into a realistic jail. There they are fingerprinted and booked

Let the de-lousing begin! Prisoners were taken in blindfolds to holding areas Prisoners were strip searched Prisoners were deloused Prisoners were given degrading prison outfits

I love what you’ve done with your hair! Prisoners outfits were smocks with no underclothes Hair was covered with a nylon cap to dehumanize Chains worn around ankles

I’m too sexy for my sunglasses Guards were given matching uniforms Guards were given mirrored sunglasses Guards were instructed to “maintain law and order”

My crib Prisoners crowded into a cell Guards were free to wake them at all hours for punishment

We shall overcome! On the second day, rebellion broke out Prisoners removed their caps and barricaded themselves Guards used fire extinguishers, physical punishment and solitary confinement

Good Boy/ Bad Boy Guards began using psychological torture Some prisoners were good- granted privileges; others were bad and were punished

Bring It On The guards began using many unacceptable forms of punishment: no toilet or bathing privileges, cleaning toilets with bare hands, forced prisoners into humiliating/ sexual punishments

Hello Mother, Hello Father Parents were allowed to visit for ten minutes Had to speak to Warden first Fathers were goaded- can’t your son take it? None demanded that their son be released

Off to the Looney Bin! Prisoner #8612 began to lose sanity Cried, screamed, raged Wouldn’t eat or respond Were forced to release him

A Break Out? When guards heard that a break out was possible, Zimbardo went to the police to ask for a transfer When denied, they reinforced the bars!

Now You’ll Pay Frustrated over rumor of break in, guards increase punishments

Prisoner 416 Prisoner 416 arrived to replace 8612. Because he was not used to the punishment, he rebelled Other prisoners told on him When given the choice between helping him or giving up own blankets, all chose to let him suffer

The Fun Is Over After a week, a fellow researcher visits the experiment and is horrified Experiment ends ahead of schedule

Let’s Do It Again! Guards disappointed about experiment’s end Many volunteer to continue duties for free Next day, break out attempted in San Quentin!

Stanford Today? Abu Ghraib Prison Guards found guilty of: Electrocution Sexual Assault Psychological Torture Murder