The Stanford Prison Experiment

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the start of The Stanford Prison Experiment. It can easily be called one of the most famous and influential experiments of the last century. This experiment by psychologist Philip Zimbardo aimed to prove how achieved roles can change human behavior. It was funded by the Office of Naval Research to determine what caused conflicts between military guards and prisoners. However, it quickly turned into a real life 'Lord of the Flies' and showed a rapid degeneration of social and moral standards among many participants and highlighted the possible dark nature that lies within humanity.








Zimbardo gathered 18 male college student volunteers to participate in the two-week experiment, with nine chosen to be guards and nine being prisoners. The basement of the psychology building at Stanford University was converted into a mock prison with three tiny cells to hold three prisoners each where they were to stay all day and night, "The Yard" aka a corridor where prisoners were allowed to walk, eat, and exercise, "The Hole" which was a small closet that served as solitary confinement, and a bathroom, although prisoners were blindfolded when taken to the restroom so they 'would not know the way out of the prison'.

Prisoners:
The ones chosen to be prisoners were greeted by a Palo Alto police officer who promptly arrested them for 'armed robbery', handcuffed them, and took them in a cruiser to a holding cell where they were booked, fingerprinted, and had their mugshot taken. They were blindfolded and transported to the mock prison, called "Stanford County Prison" where they were greeted by the "warden" (Zimbardo) who told them how serious their offense was and that they were now a prisoner. They were then searched, stripped, and deloused. The prisoners were given a uniform"—a dress/smock worn with no underwear that bore the prisoners ID number, the only way they were to be addressed. This was to keep the prisoners anonymous, as if they had no identity. They also wore nylon stockings on their heads to simulate having their heads shaved to take away any individuality and had a heavy chain bolted around their ankles that must be worn at all times to serve as a constant reminder of their incarceration. 

Guards:
The guards were instructed by Zimbardo that they were not to use any physical force, but were free to do whatever else they felt necessary to maintain order. They made up their own sets of guidelines and rotated 8 hour shifts, after which they were allowed to return home but remained on call. As you can see in the picture above, they were given khaki uniforms, a wooden baton (which they were not allowed to use; it was merely a symbol of their status), and mirrored sunglasses (to prevent eye contact, taking away the human element and making them seem more authoritative). 

Results:
The first day was uneventful, as both the prisoners and the guards were still becoming accustomed to their roles. On the morning of the second day, however, the prisoners had taken off their stocking caps, ripped their identification numbers off their uniforms, and barricaded their cell doors with their beds, refusing to come out. The guards called for backup from the off-duty officers and devised a plan, and attacked the prisoners with fire extinguishers while breaking down the doors. 

The guards also implemented what they called "counts", by ordering the prisoners to line up in "The Yard" and recite their ID numbers. This supposed roll call was used not only to assert authority, but also to make prisoners memorize their prison numbers and internalize the idea that this number was their sole identity. 


Mattresses, food, and using the bathroom all became privileges. Prisoners were routinely punished by being forced to sleep on the floor, being denied bathroom access, and being forced to do push-ups. Some prisoners were also forced to strip naked as a form of humiliation. In general, the guards began to see the prisoners as troublemakers and general threats to their well-being. Their behavior became alarmingly sadistic and it was apparent their absolute power was corrupting them.

The prisoners rebelled slightly in the beginning, but as time went on they started to accept and internalize their roles. Two prisoners had to be removed early due to extreme emotional distress, and a new one was introduced. As per instruction by Zimbardo, he staged a hunger strike against the guards for mistreatment. He was confined to "The Hole" and when the prisoners were offered a bargain—giving up their blankets in exchange for his freedom—all but one refused, as they saw him as a troublemaker and wanted to remain obedient. 


Everyone involved began to see it as a reality rather than just an experiment. They fell into their roles and acted as such. Even the warden, Zimbardo, began to act more like a superintendent than a psychologist. A wake-up call came when graduate student Christina Maslach was introduced to conduct interviews and objected to the appalling conditions, questioning the morality of the experiment. After her visit, Zimbardo decided to shut down the intended 2-week ordeal after only 6 days. 

Abu Ghraib torture

This experiment was conducted during the 1960s and 70s, a time when student protests and rebellions against oppressive governments and authorities were very common. Given this setting, I think it's quite surprising how little the prisoners acted against their mistreatment. This experiment is also commonly compared with the scandal of Abu Ghraib, where American soldiers grossly abused prisoners in an absence of strict policies. 




So, what do you think? Do you think we are apt to play into our ascribed or achieved roles regardless of moral standards (consider the Milgram Study)? Do you think power in the absence of regulation brings out the worst in human nature?




Bonus:
A documentary about the Stanford Prison experiment:

Bonus #2: 

The official website of the experiment, run by Philip Zimbardo: http://www.prisonexp.org/