The Stanford Prison Experiment: How Good People Became Brutal Guards in 6 Days
In August 1971, Stanford psychologist Philip Zimbardo posted an ad in the newspaper: “Male college students needed for psychological study of prison life. $15 per day for 1-2 weeks.” Twenty-four mentally healthy, middle-class college students responded. They were screened, tested, and deemed normal, stable individuals. Zimbardo randomly assigned them to two groups: guards and prisoners. The experiment was supposed to last two weeks. It lasted six days. What Happened Zimbardo converted the basement of Stanford’s psychology building into a mock prison. The “guards” received uniforms, wooden batons, and mirrored sunglasses to prevent eye contact. The “prisoners” were given smocks, assigned numbers, and had their heads covered with nylon stockings. ...