The Stanford prison experiment was a psychological experiment conducted at Stanford University from August 14-20, 1971. The purpose of the experiment was to study the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or a guard. The experiment was led by the psychology professor Phillip Zimbardo and a team of researchers. Participants were told they were to take place in a two-week prison simulation and would be paid fifteen dollars a day. Out of the seventy-five volunteers twenty-four were chosen due to them being the most psychologically stable and healthy. The participants were split into two groups of twelve. Half of the participants would be prisoners and the other half would be guards. A makeshift prison was made in the basement of Stanford’s psychology building complete with small mock cells and a hallway serving as a prison yard.

On the first day the prisoners were subject to a fake arrest and taken to their new prison. They were stripped and given uncomfortable smocks with a number, caps to cover their hair, and a chain around their ankle. Guards were outfitted with clothing similar to prison guard uniform and given wooden batons and sunglasses to show their authority. Guards were instructed to address prisoners by their number to take away their individuality. The rest of the day was uneventful with little problems. However on the second day the prisoners of one cell began to revolt by blocking the door to their cell by using their mattresses and mocking the guards. The guards subdued the revolt by bringing in more guards and using fire extinguishers to attack the prisoners. Once the rebellion was crushed the guards decided to use psychological tactics to control the prisoner. The guards set up a privilege cell and allowed the prisoners who were not part of the riot to stay in this cell, and they also received better meals.

Conditions only worsened for the prisoners. After only thirty-six hours prisoner #8612 began to act crazy. He screamed, cursed, and went into a rage. It took several hours before the research team was convinced he was suffering and let him go. Guards became more abusive to the prisoners. They wouldn’t allow prisoners to use the toilet, and provided them with a sanitary bucket in their cell. They would make the prisoners give up their mattresses and make them sleep on the concrete floor. Some prisoners were forced to be naked and suffered degradation. It became evident that some of the guards exhibited sadistic tendencies. Prisoner #416 was a newly admitted to the prison and was concerned about the state of the other prisoners. He began a hunger strike which angered the guards. He was sent to solitary confinement and the guards told the other prisoners if they gave up their blankets they would release him. All but one prisoner refused.

Zimbardo ended the experiment early when a graduate student showed major concern about the condition and the treatment of the prisoners after she was added to the experiment to conduct interviews. Out of the fifty observers of the experiment she was the only one who questioned the morality of it. The entirety of the experiment lasted six days. The research from this experiment has greatly affected the prison system in America. For example juveniles accused of federal crimes are no longer housed before trial with adult prisoners. We can learn a lot from the experiment. We can ask ourselves what will happen when one is given absolute power, and what will happen when you take away human individuality.

For More Information Check Out This Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_LKzEqlPto

Resources  - http://www.prisonexp.org/the-story/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/the-real-lesson-of-the-stanford-prison-experiment