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The Stanford Prison Experiment Photo Timeline Jamie Walton
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The Stanford Prison Experiment

"How we went about testing these questions and what we found may astound you. Our planned two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life had to be ended after only six days because of what the situation was doing to the college students who participated. In only a few days, our guards became sadistic and our prisoners became depressed and showed signs of extreme stress. Please read the story of what happened and what it tells us about the nature of human nature."

~Professor Philip G Zimbardo

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Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo




[SPE Classified Ad]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.stanforddaily.com/2015/01/29/sundance-stanford-prison-experiment-harrowing-but-disappointing/ 
Published in The Stanford Daily

Classified Ad for volunteers to participate in the study.

[Volunteers completing test]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://web.stanford.edu/~zim/ZIM%20LUCIFER%20POLAND.key/2%20SPE%20VOLUNTEERS%20COMPLETING%20TESTS-1.jpg

Volunteers are completing test to determine qualifications. Over 70 applicants applied but candidates with psychological problems, medical disabilities, or drug and alcohol problems were eliminated.  24 male participants were selected, 12 being guards, 12 being prisoners.  Two were identified as reserves.

SPE Guard Club [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from https://web.stanford.edu/~zim/ZIM%20LUCIFER%20POLAND.key/7%20SPE%20GUARD%201%20W.%20CLUB-1.jpg

Day 1 - August 14, 1971

Guards receive orientation and are told to maintain the law.

Day 2 - August 15, 1971

  • Prisoner's were arrested at their homes, blindfolded and taken to the simulated prison that was in the basement of Jordan Hall at Stanford University.
  • The guards process the prisoners by stripping them down and delousing them for germs and lice, humiliating them.
  • Prisoners are given their uniforms, a smock,  and assigned a number that they would be referred to for the remainder of the study.
SPE The Yard In Action [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://web.stanford.edu/~zim/ZIM%20LUCIFER%20POLAND.key/10%20%20SPE%20THE%20YARD%20IN%20ACTION.jpg

Day 3 - August 15, 1971

  • Prisoner in Cell 1 barricade themselves in their cell, taunting the guards.  
  • Guards decide to teach the prisoners a lesson, claiming they "have the power."  
  • Extra guards help stop the revolt, prisoners are stripped down as punishment, and several are placed in the "hole."

Day 4 - August 16, 2017

  • Prisoner #8612 breaks down.  Carlos Prescott (prison consultant) and Zimbardo are unable to convince him to be a snitch for the guards so he is released 36 hours after the study started.
  • Zimbardo's strategies with the guards raises concerns that he is blurring his mock role with his research.
  • Guards decide to place obedient prisoners in their own cell and provide them with special privileges.
SPE 819 Did A Bad Thing [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from https://web.stanford.edu/~zim/ZIM%20LUCIFER%20POLAND.key/19%20SPE%20819%20did%20%20a%20bad%20thing.jpg

Day 5 - August 17, 1971

  • A priests visit prisoners.
  • A new prisoner, #416, is introduced who does not approve of the guards abuse of power and becomes unruly and is disciplined.
  • Prisoner #819's disobedience causes other prisoners to be punished and they refer to him as a "bad prisoner." Refusing to eat and appearing broken, Zimbardo releases him from the study even though he refuses.
https://web.stanford.edu/~zim/ZIM%20LUCIFER%20POLAND.key/23%20SPE%20PRISONERS%20BAGGED.jpg

Day 6 - August 18, 1971

  • Families are allowed to visit prisoners
  • Prisoner #416 rebels and goes on a hunger strike.  He is immediately placed in the hole with his food.  However, a guard realizes it is wrong and releases him from the hole.
  • Prisoner #2093 is commanded to swear by the guards but refuses so he is punished.
  • Christina Maslach, Zimbarbo's partner, sits in on an interview panel of prisoners. Afterwards she tell Zimbardo that she is questioning the morality of the experiment.

Day 7 - August 19, 1971

  • Zimbardo announces to the prisoners and guards that the study is over.
[SPE Prisoners]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from https://www.google.com/search?q=images of the stanford prison experiment&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_jNfckLXXAhVKw2MKHRWmASEQsAQIJQ&biw=1500&bih=835#imgdii=opsbkvaCDIVCDM:&imgrc=XZmNq22ZRSj5gM:&spf=1510440842776

Day 8 - August 20, 1971

  • Guards and prisoners gathered to have encounter sessions to discuss their interaction with each other and experiences.
  • Study and Stanford County Prison Experiment are officially closed at 5 p.m.
  • Results demonstrated how the power of authority, when given social institutional support, can be altered.

The Stanford Prison Experiment

H. (2011, August 20). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwfNs1pqG0