In 1971, a psychology teacher at the University of Stanford, wanted set up an experiment to study the behavioral and emotional changes of people, when put into solitary confinement and actual prison environment. He put an ad in the paper for this experiment stating: the experiment was for 2 weeks; the person would play the role of the prisoner or guard and receive $15 a day. He had 70 students apply, so he surveyed them to only collect good normal participants. He hired 24 out of the 70 and split them by the throw of a coin guard or prisoner. On August 14, 1971, he turned the basement of the psychology department into a realistic prison. He portrayed his guards as realistic as possible. He gave them uniforms and the power to dictate to these prisoner verbally and deprive them of needs. The prisoner were stripped of their clothes to be put in uniform, chains around their legs, gave them a number and put them cells with bars.
As the experiment went underway it only lasted for 6 days. A few of the inmates were released before the 6 days. Prisoner 8612 was the first one to be released because he went into an uncontrollable rage. Next was prisoner 819 because he had an emotional break down. Finally 416 was a new comer, who was very disobedient and was going to be released but the experiment t ended. During these 6 days the prisoners suffered immensely from verbal and emotional abuse. They had to do physical work like push ups, were mad fun of, were punished with no food or bed, and may have been put in the hole. The guards got so good at playing the role of the authoritative figure that it was almost a reality. When the experiment ended there were many great conclusions drawn. It demonstrated how one can quickly gain power of a situation, how one can turn illusion into reality and how reject imposes a great deal of emotion on a person.
Terms:.
Group: The overall experiment was a group project.