The Standrof Prison Experiment

The Stanford Prison experiment studied institutional power in directing normal and healthy college student volunteers. Playing a random role of been prisoners and guards where they behaved as differently as their behavioral tendency. Thus, showing a system power, which, creates an influential social situation that affects the behavior of all the people that are within its behavioral context.

A college student was arrested and convicted of a felony. During the arrest he was informed of his Miranda rights. He was later booked in the city jail. They blindfolded him and was taken to Stanford County Prison, where he was issued an ID number (Prisoner 8612) showing in both side of his smock-type uniform. Other eight college students were also arrested. The prisoner’s identity was anonymous and they saw the prisoners as worthless numbers. The guards established their arbitrary rules, which should not be questioned or the prisoners privileges where taken. In the beginning the privileges included reading, writing, and speaking with inmates. If there was any protest they would loos privileges o...