Philip Zimbardos Simulated Prison Experiment

In 1971, psychologist Phillip Zimbardo set out to create an experiment that looked at the impact of becoming a prisoner or a prison guard. The experiment was to test human behavior when one's role had been altered into authoritative one. Still powerful after all these years the experiment was the most powerful and popular experiment of all time (O'Toole, K). Researches set up a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University building. There were the 24 students out of 70 volunteers chosen to play the roles of the prisoners or prison guards.
The simulated prison included three six by nine-foot cells. Each cell held inmates that included three cots. There was a tiny space three that was designed to look like solitary confinement, and another small room to act as the prison yard. Of the 24 volunteers 3 of them were prison guards that worked eight hour shifts around the clock for the next two weeks. While the experiment slated to last 14 days, it had to
The prisoners started breaking down and feeling overwhelmed. One prisoner had been screaming and crying uncontrollable for 36 hours. Some of the other prisoners were showing signs of an emotional disorder that could have had lasting consequences. The experiment wasn't meant to have physically or mentally damage anyone so that's why the experiment was short lived.
People will adapt to any role given to them especially if it's a role of power. You can be a sweet cucumber in a vinegar barrel (Brockman). People are sweet and kind until they are given a bit of authority, then to some it all goes to their heads. Once you have the say over someone’s life and wellbeing your attitude changes a little bit, some even take it too far. In today's world the same issues are still going on. The brutalities reported among guards in American prisons were more than likely due to the prison guard’s personalities and