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University:  University of Central Florida - UCF

Greek Organization:  Delta Delta Delta

Author:  anonymous

Comment:  The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971, aimed to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power and powerlessness in a simulated prison setting. Participants were randomly assigned to be either "guards" or "prisoners" in a mock prison. The experiment quickly spiraled out of control. The guards began to exhibit authoritarian behaviors, subjecting the prisoners to psychological abuse, while the prisoners became passive, depressed, and highly stressed. The experiment, originally planned to last two weeks, was halted after only six days due to the extreme negative effects on the participants. This experiment demonstrated the powerful role of social influence, particularly the impact of situational factors on behavior. It showed how readily individuals conform to social roles and adopt behaviors associated with those roles, even when they conflict with their personal values. The key factors and variables at play included: 1. Social Roles: The assigned roles of "guard" and "prisoner" heavily influenced behavior. 2. Power Dynamics: The guards' perceived power over the prisoners led to abusive behavior. 3. Deindividuation: Participants lost their sense of personal identity and responsibility. 4. Situational Factors: The prison environment itself contributed to the observed behaviors. The Stanford Prison Experiment highlights the extent to which social situations can dictate individual behavior, overriding personal dispositions and ethical considerations.