Standford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, studied how individuals adopt roles of authority and submission. Volunteers were assigned as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison environment. The experiment quickly revealed that guards tended to become abusive and prisoners showed signs of stress, illustrating how situational factors and assigned roles can influence behavior profoundly. The study was halted early due to ethical concerns, highlighting the powerful impact of authority and environment on human conduct. It remains a significant, though controversial, exploration of social psychology related to authority, conformity, and moral behavior.