The Stanford Prison Experiment (1971): Led by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, this study simulated a prison environment at Stanford University to examine human behavior under authority. Volunteers were randomly assigned as “prisoners” or “guards.” The experiment rapidly descended into abuse, with guards exhibiting sadistic behavior and prisoners showing extreme stress. It was terminated after six days instead of the planned two weeks. While it provided insights into situational power dynamics, it was widely criticized for ethical violations, lack of oversight, and psychological harm. It led to stricter guidelines for psychological research involving human subjects and remains a cautionary tale in social psychology.
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