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PSY 530 Final Project Milestone Three Stanford Experiment VS. Marion Experiment Southern New Hampshire University PSY 530 By Nicole Davy 11/05/2023

PSY 530 Final Project Milestone Three Introduction In 1971, Philip Zimbardo, a Psychology professor at Stanford University began an experimental study about the effects of situational variables on a person’s reaction and behavior. The strict structure in prisons causes both the guards and the inmates to act in a hostile and unsafe manner. This came to be known as the “Stanford Experiment”. A voluntary group of 24 college students were randomly selected for roles as either an inmate or prison guard, while Zimbardo took on the role as the prison warden. The experiment was intended to last a full two weeks or 14 days but was unexpectedly cut short on day 6. Just one day shy of half the original expected time length. The experiment had its limitations such as no physical violence upon either the guards or the inmates, only psychological and behavioral patterns were being explored. But that was not limited to emotional or psychological abuse in the form of name calling, cursing, berating, pranks, and humiliating demands. On day 6 the experiment came to a halt when Zimbardo brought in a fellow professor and associate professors to observe the experiment. One observer in particular thought the behavior she was witnessing was horrifying, and demanded it come to a stop immediately. Once the experiment ended, and Zimbardo was able to gather his information and observations from the 6-day duration, he was able to conclude that the probable hypothesis could be proven true (Zimbardo, 2007). The strict structure of the mock prison and guards caused the inmates to act out hostility which became unsafe for everyone involved. The Marion experiment took place over a 20-year period from 1963 to 1983 in USP Marion in southern Illinois. This process is told from the prisoner’s perspective, because the author Stephen Richards was incarcerated during this time. Since the author is the narrator from past experiences within the prisons, I didn’t see a hypothesis or research question. It appears that the longer a person is in solitary confinement, their behavioral problems will continue once they

PSY 530 Final Project Milestone Three are back in the general prison population. Or if behavioral problems lead to solitary confinement, will the behavior continue once released into the general population? The Federal Bureau of Prisons used this prison and the inmates for an experiment “to see how much a prisoner can take before he breaks, to see how far they can dehumanize somebody before they completely lose their sanity” (Richards, 2015). Richards gives detailed accounts of his time incarcerated, and how solitary confinement affected him as well as the other inmates. He doesn’t just base this study on his own memories, he gets other reformed inmates to tell their stories as well. Solitary confinement doesn’t just affect the inmate incarcerated; it also affects the other inmates when that said inmate returns to the general population. Guards are affected as well, because they are the only form of human contact during anyone’s time in solitary. What Richards was able to conclude in his study based on personal experience and observations, and those of others is that a person who spends an extended time in solitary confinement will come out with increased behavioral problems once released back with other inmates. In the Stanford experiment, I believe the psychological approaches that were used were behaviorism and cognitive behavior therapy. The intent was to observe and examine the inmates’ behaviors within a strict environment, the mock prison. To make the experiment as realistic as possible, the chosen inmates were “arrested” by local police, booked, transported to prison, given identity number, stripped naked, and given smocks to wear with no under garments allowed. Once the check in process was completed, the inmates were then assigned to one of the 4 cells, which would be their “home” for the duration of the experiment (Zimbardo, 2007). As stated above, there were very few rules other than no physical violence allowed, leaving free range for the inmates and the guards to do whatever was necessary to the others. Zimbardo was able to oversee all behaviors from guards and inmates as the warden. As early as day 2, the behaviors of

PSY 530 Final Project Milestone Three the inmates changed for the worse, they began to push their mattresses against the cell doors so guards could not enter. Behaviors on both sides began to spiral out of control, degrading, name calling, verbal harassment, verbal threats were some of what was exhibited. By observing the behaviors, Zimbardo could collect evidence as to why the inmates turned on the guards and why the guards began berating the inmates. Bringing into cognitive behavior therapy, trying to access the relationships between, thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Many therapists believe this is a dysfunctional way of thinking because it emphasizes what a person is thinking rather than how they are behaving (Kulig, 2017). But this can also help explain the behaviors and help with the analysis as to why this experiment only lasted 6 days. During Zimbardo’s education he was a former classmate of Stanley Milgram. Milgram was a famous psychologist who is known for obedience experiments. This psychological experiment was intended to show obedience to authority figures in specific situations (Zimbardo, 2007). Zimbardo used these previous experiments from Milgram as a foundation to build from. He wanted to further investigate the situational impact on human behaviors, but this time in a prison like setting. Now the Marion Study gives off a different vibe due to the fact it’s not really an experiment or an official study. This is firsthand experience, not only from Richards’ the author but also from other reformed inmates who have spent time in these prisons. The Federal Bureau of Prisons used this prison and the inmates for an experiment “to see how much a prisoner can take before he breaks, to see how far they can dehumanize somebody before they completely lose their sanity” (Richards, 2015). There are several different types of prisons that have been built, ones for juveniles, men, women, drug offenders, traffic offenders, and sex offenders. Even though there are thousands of prisons within the United States, which can be spotted from far away due to the barb wire fences and guards with guns patrolling the perimeter, little was known

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