What type of experiment was the Stanford prison experiment?
The Stanford prison experiment, conducted in 1971, is one of the most controversial and infamous psychological studies in history. It aimed to investigate the human response to hierarchical authority and the potential for ordinary people to engage in abusive behavior when placed in a situation where they were given power over others. The experiment was designed as a simulation of a prison environment, with participants randomly assigned to the roles of guards and prisoners. Despite its brief duration, the experiment had profound and disturbing consequences, raising ethical questions about the limits of human behavior and the importance of ethical guidelines in psychological research. In this article, we will explore the nature of the Stanford prison experiment, its methodology, and the ethical implications that emerged from it.
