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Causes And Effects Of The Stanford Prison Study

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The Stanford Prison Study
The Stanford Prison Experiment was a social psychology study conducted by Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo in 1971. The study was designed to investigate the psychological effects of power and authority on individuals and was intended to last two weeks. However, it was terminated after only six days due to the extreme behavior of the participants (Leithead, 2011).
The study involved the selection of 24 healthy, normal college students who were randomly assigned to play the roles of prisoners and guards in a simulated prison environment. The participants were all male and were screened for psychological and physical health prior to the study (Leithead, 2011).
The Stanford Prison Experiment was a controversial and groundbreaking study that highlighted the power of …show more content…

This abuse included physical punishments, such as forced exercise and solitary confinement, as well as verbal abuse and humiliation (Cherry, 2023).
The participants who played the role of prisoners, on the other hand, experienced extreme emotional distress and psychological trauma. Many of the prisoners began to exhibit signs of psychological breakdowns, such as screaming, crying, and attempting to escape. Some participants even experienced long-lasting psychological effects, such as depression and anxiety, that lasted for years after the study ended (Cherry, 2023).

Avoid or Fix the Harms Caused by the Stanford Prison Study
The scientists could have taken greater steps to protect the participants from psychological harm as they could have involved providing adequate counseling and support during and after the study, as well as monitoring the participants closely to ensure that no lasting harm was caused (StudySmarter,

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