Zimbardo's Prison Experiment

Zimbardo's Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, studied the effects of perceived power in a simulated prison environment. College students were assigned roles as either guards or prisoners. The results were shocking: guards became increasingly abusive, while prisoners displayed extreme psychological distress. The experiment, meant to last two weeks, was terminated after just six days due to the harmful behavior observed. This study highlighted the influence of situational dynamics on human behavior and raised ethical concerns regarding psychological research, emphasizing how ordinary people can enact cruelty when placed in authoritative roles.