Exploring the Stanford Prison Experiment: A Psychological Perspective

The idea of experimentation of prison life achieved by the Stanford University students was intriguing and the results were interesting. Haney, Banks, and Zimbardo’s study due to a result of their curiosity of the reactions of subjects when placed in prisoner or prison guard roles. Their inspiration for the study was somewhat unclear; however, hypothetically reasoning was placed on determining aspects of the actual reality of incarceration. The experimenters also strived to test the theory on whether prisoners face abhorrent conditions due to their interpersonal evils, or do to the aggressive and deviant behaviors of prison guards (Haney, Banks, Zimbardo, 1973). The researchers went through extreme lengths to achieve as closely to an

The mock prisoners transitioned into inferior subjects who systematically adapted to their new reality. Emotional and physical manifestations were manufactured in the incarcerated subjects, there was even an individual who developed a skin rash due to the emotional trauma (Haney, Banks, Zimbardo, 1973).
Similarly, the prison guards also adapted immediately to their simulated roles by becoming aggressive and claiming authority early in the simulation. Almost immediately the bestowed upon power became an immediate test of morality and humanism. The subjects playing the roles of the guards progressively dehumanized the simulated incarcerated.
As stated previously the results of this study came with shock some value along with affirmation for many theorists. “Correctional officers work directly with inmates, and their perceptions of inmates either enhance or reduce the possibility of stress” (Misis, Kim, Cheeseman, Hogan, and Lambert, 2013). This study opened the door for psychologist to continue to research the ramifications of incarcerations in many realms and spectrums. The rapid deterioration of the mock inmates due to the immediate acceleration of aggression by the subject prison guards, enables psychologist to test the theory of inhumanity by ways of social behavior social

Also, there should have not been limitations on food and sanitation requirements. Although the experimenters wanted to simulate as real of an environment as possible, had they brought on gradual reductions of basic needs the study may have lasted closer to the targeted end date. In conclusion, much intrigue and amazement has been placed on this study. Psychologically speaking this study is a testament on the ability of humans to lose their humanity. Limited rules were placed on both parties; however, due to the apparent mental branding by society there were an effortless transition to the traditional characteristics of each role. The mock prisoners lost the ability to understand that they were not convicted criminals. The subject prison guards mentally transitioned to actual correctional officers. Whereas the subject prisoners wanted to leave at any time and forgot that they could; many of the mock prison guards did not want to leave and thought of devious ways to antagonize. Although there was a lack of actual planning by the experimenters, the study still was ground breaking due to the empirical evidence retrieved