1. Stanford Prison Experiment
Stanford University August 14 – 20, Professor Philip Zimbardo

2. Stanford Prison Experiment
A study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard.
Conducted at Stanford University by Professor Philip Zimbardo.
Funded by the US Office of Naval Research.
Purpose was to find out what caused conflicts between guards and prisoners.

3. Stanford Prison Experiment
Hypothesis was that the inherent personality traits of prisoners and guards are the chief cause of abusive behavior in prison.
Participants were paid $14 per day…in 1971, it was worth more!

4. Stanford Prison Experiment
24 male students were randomly assigned roles of prisoners and guards in a mock prison.
Participants quickly adapted to their roles.
Guards used authoritarian measures to enforce rules.
Used psychological torture on prisoners.

5. Stanford Prison Experiment
Many of the prisoners passively accepted the abuse and harassed other prisoners for the guards.
Zimbardo allowed the abuse to continue.
Two prisoners quit and the experiment was stopped after only 6 days.
Experiment was supposed to last 2 weeks.

9. Stanford Prison Experiment
Results:
Guards stepped beyond their roles and exhibited “genuine sadistic tendencies”.
Prisoners were emotionally traumatized.
Results supported the Milgram experiment on authority. (People obeyed those in positions of authority.)

10. Stanford Prison Experiment
Shortly after the end of the study, there were revolts in San Quentin and Attica prisons.
Solidarity amongst prisoners led to prison reform.