The Stanford prison experiment is one of the most influential and important experiments conducted in the history of psychology. In a study to explore social identities, Philip Zimbardo questioned what would happen if ordinary people were assigned the roles of prisoners and guards, he wondered if these people would adapt characteristics attached to those positions. Zimbardo designed the basement of the Stanford psychology department to replicate a prison, and randomly assigned 24 male individuals to become either a prisoner or a guard by flipping a coin. Mock Arrests were created to capture the prisoners, and chains were placed on their ankles to represent a loss of freedom.
Over the course of the next few days, Zimbardo made some interesting discoveries. Gradually the individuals began to adapt to their roles, and an intriguing series of events followed. The prison guards began to treat the prisoners poorly, sparking a rebellion. The prison guards began to treat the prisoners inhumanely and began to inflict cruel punishments. Prisoners were forced to do push ups, strip naked, paper bags were placed over their heads, and they were even forced to clean out the toilets. The prisoners began to protest, they barricaded themselves in their cells and the guards began to view them as dangerous criminals. The guards broke the rebellion in a physical way, using fire extinguishers to take down the doors. Human nature was transforming rapidly, and the participants did not understand the severity of their actions.
Several prisoners began to have emotional breakdowns, due to extreme stress reactions. Prisoners began to show signs of emotional disturbance, depression, and hopelessness. Several participants were released from the study due to these psychological disturbances, and Zimbardo ended the study 8 days early. The prisoners felt relieved and the guards were upset, Zimbardo realized that these individuals adopted characteristics of their roles much quicker than he could have imagined.
The Stanford prison experiment helped reveal the vulnerability of deindividualization in society. Deindividualization is the concept that people will engage in different behaviors when stripped of their usual identities. In this study, the participants were normal people, who engaged in uncharacteristic behaviors. The prison guards were given reflective glasses, to help mask their identities. The impression that these individuals were stripped of their identities helped further enhance the effect of deindividuation. When one becomes individualized, that individual becomes more vulnerable to social influences, including social roles. In this instance, the participants adapted the characteristics of their role. The prison officers were solely given uniforms and handcuffs, they were not instructed to act in any specific way. The harassment shown by the officers was solely down to deindividuation and their own intentions. The prisoners were stripped of their human rights, and resulted towards acts of rebellion and crime.
The Stanford prison study also helped better understand the effect power may have towards an individual. When there is a difference in power between two individuals, a different side of a person may be released. This idea is shown through the poor treatment from the prison guards towards the prisoners, the difference in power caused each person to act in the way they did. Through the results of this study, a light is shined on the influence of roles within society. As police brutality has become an ongoing national issue, we now how a better understanding of how this power may impact those in higher positions. Power changes perception, often times people lose themselves when found in positions of power. Power helps amplify the true intentions of a person, one’s behavior is an expression of their true attitudes and motivations. The differences in power may be the source for sometime tragic outcomes, such as several deaths caused by police brutality. The concept that power can impact an individual is also shown on a smaller scale. For example, a difference in power within a relationship can lead to several negative outcomes such as violence and sexual abuse.
Zimbardo’s experiment helped highlight that power can bring out the worst in people, but many often neglect that power can be used to protect and help others. Power is neither good or bad, simply putting people who possess higher amounts of empathy in power will result towards less negative outcomes. Allowing these individuals to follow their positive intentions will result in better outcomes. Through Zimbardo’s results, the idea is emphasized that people with the right intentions need to be put in power. In order to prevent deindividuation and abuses of power, we must be cautious of who we place in higher positions within society.