Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) is one of the most infamous psychology experiments and is frequently mentioned in textbooks. Conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo, the SPE aimed to explore and understand how individuals conform when given orders by an authority figure, as well as to demonstrate how being given power can lead to abuse. However, the experiment was riddled with methodological flaws and has been debunked by many modern researchers and psychologists. Despite this, the SPE continues to captivate the public and is often cited as evidence that ordinary, good people can commit harmful and violent acts when placed in positions of power. Nevertheless, due to its deeply flawed methodology and numerous ethical violations, it can be argued that the primary lesson of the SPE is not about human behavior but about what not to do in psychological research.