The Stanford Prison Experiment: How Good People Became Brutal Guards in 6 Days

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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.

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The Stanford Prison Experiment: How Good People Became Brutal Guards in 6 Days

What Happened