The Stanford Prison Experiment (film)

The Stanford Prison Experiment is a film based on a real 1971 study where college students volunteered to be either guards or prisoners in a simulated prison setting. The experiment aimed to explore how situational power and authority affect behavior. As the experiment progressed, participants quickly adopted their roles, leading to intense psychological effects, with guards abusing power and prisoners showing signs of stress. The study was terminated early due to these ethical concerns. The film highlights how ordinary people can commit or experience cruelty under specific circumstances, raising important questions about human nature and ethical research practices.