Stanford Prison Study Zimbardo

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Philip Zimbardo and Craig Haney conducted the Stanford Prison Study in August of 1971. The aim of this study was to find out what would happen if ordinary university students were randomly assigned the role of either a prisoner or a guard. Zimbardo and Haney set up a prison environment, which consisted of individual cells and uniforms for both the prisoners and the guards. This “prison” was placed in the Stanford Psychology department building, which would be the university students’ home for two weeks. Participants were found by an ad in a newspaper that stated that they were looking for male university students to conduct a research experiment. Out of 70 applicants who responded, 24 qualified and were chosen by a diagnostic interview and a personality test. These tests ensured that the participants had no history of psychological disorders, illnesses, or a criminal past. Further, the students were paid $15.00 each day that they were part of the study.…show more content…
The guards were told by Zimbardo to give the prisoners a sense of fear. He told them to do this by giving them no privacy, stripping them of their individuality, and making them feel powerless. Therefore, the prisoners were faced with great hostility right from the beginning of the experiment. The prisoners were brought into the study by being arrested by the city police. Once brought to the mock prison the guards told the prisoners about the seriousness of their offense and then conducted a full body search and strip. Once the search was complete the prisoners were given their uniform which consisted of a smock with a prisoner identification number, a stocking hat, rubber sandals, and a heavy chain bolted around their ankle which would remain there at all times. This uniform was chosen to humiliate and constantly remind the prisoners that they were indeed in a prison and could not
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