Zimbardo's A01

• Mock prison

  Prison set up in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University
• Emotionally stable students

  Students who volunteered were emotionally stable
• Psychological testing


  Various tests and assessments conducted on the students
• Random assignment

  Students randomly assigned roles of prisoners (Ps) and guards (Gs)
• Arrested

  Prisoners (Ps) were arrested in their homes by local police, blindfolded,strip-searched,deloused and given uniforms and numbers
• Rules for prisoners

  Prisoners (Ps) had 16 rules to follow
• Shifts for guards

  Guards (Gs) worked in shifts of 3 at a time
• Handcuffs and club

  Guards (Gs) were equipped with handcuffs and a wooden club
• Enthusiastic guards

  Guards (Gs) were very enthusiastic about their roles
• Experiment duration

  The experiment was planned for 14 days but was stopped after 6 days
• Prisoner rebellion

  Prisoners (Ps) rebelled on the 2nd day by ripping their uniforms and shouting
• Guard retaliation

  Guards (Gs) retaliated to the rebellion using fire extinguishers and 'divide and rule' tactics
• Constant harassment

  Guards (Gs) constantly harassed prisoners (Ps) with headcounts and monitoring
• Psychological damage


  Some prisoners (Ps) showed signs of psychological damage and were released. E.g: first day
• Hunger strike


  One prisoner (P) went on a hunger strike where they were put in 'the hole' as punishment
• Brutal and aggressive guards

  Some guards (Gs) exhibited brutal and aggressive behavior
• Conformity to roles

  Both guards (Gs) and prisoners (Ps) conformed to their assigned roles