Have you ever wondered why humankind experiences so many wars and atrocities? How is it that so many people are capable of committing such unimaginable acts?
The answer lies mostly in power, manipulation and obedience. To explore this further, in 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted one of the most notorious studies of modern times – the (in)famous Stanford Prison Experiment.
Zimbardo recreated a prison environment in the basement of Stanford University, randomly assigning student volunteers the roles of guards and prisoners. The aim was to determine how easily ordinary people could be manipulated into cruelty when given power over others.
In just a couple of days, the “guards” began exhibiting increasingly abusive behavior, while the “prisoners” showed signs of extreme stress and emotional breakdowns. It was as though their roles had consumed their identities.
What began as a two-week psychological study quickly spiraled into a nightmare of both physical and psychological abuse. This descent mirrored the darker side of humanity – where authority and power can strip away empathy, turning people against one another, blurring the lines between right and wrong, human and inhumane.
Zimbardo himself, acting as the prison warden, lost touch with reality. And his assistants did nothing to stop the escalating madness. It wasn’t until Christine Maslach, a fellow psychologist and Zimbardo’s girlfriend at the time (later his wife), walked into the experiment that someone finally intervened.
Horrified by what she saw, Christine challenged Zimbardo, questioning the ethics of the entire experiment. It was only then that Zimbardo realized how far he had drifted, ultimately deciding to end the experiment – after six days.
I can’t help raising a chilling question: What if Christine hadn’t shown up? How much further would the madness have gone?
Christine, the only female figure, represents the divine intervention. She makes us wonder how many conflicts and acts of cruelty could be prevented if more people chose to intervene, speak up, and act with compassion?
This story, serving as a reminder of the fragility of human morality and how easily power and manipulation can lead to destruction, has inspired several films. The latest, released in 2015, based on archived video materials and Zimbardo’s book The Lucifer Effect, offers the closest depiction of the experiment.
I really recommend watching The Stanford Prison Experiment – it’s the best $3.59 I’ve spent on a movie in a long time!
Interesting experiment. Not surprised by the outcome. Grateful Zimbardo’s girlfriend stepped in. Not sure when I will watch the movie but I wonder if the subjects had long term effects.
The experiment is highly controversial, there is literature that says that no lasting trauma was found in participants. At the same time it was found that some “guards” and “prisoners” did experience flashbacks, anxieties and even a form of PTSD after the experiment. Thanks for commenting, Michelle!