SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Philip G. Zimbardo, renowned for his groundbreaking yet criticized “Stanford Prison Experiment,” has passed away at the age of 91. The experiment, conducted in 1971, aimed to delve into the psychological impacts of imprisonment.
Stanford University confirmed on Friday that Zimbardo died on October 14 at his residence in San Francisco. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Zimbardo led a team of graduate students in the experiment, which involved temporarily placing college-aged men in a simulated prison environment set up in a Stanford basement. Originally intended to last two weeks, the study was abruptly halted after just six days due to escalating psychological abuse. Participants assigned as guards exhibited abusive behavior, while those assigned as prisoners experienced severe psychological distress, including anxiety and anger, according to a statement released by Stanford.
Critics have pointed to Zimbardo’s role in the experiment as a major ethical concern; he took on the position of prison superintendent, thereby shifting from an impartial observer to an active participant. This decision has sparked ongoing debates about the ethics of psychological research.
The Stanford Prison Experiment has since been widely incorporated into psychology curricula as a critical case study for understanding the psychology of evil, ethical considerations in research involving human subjects, and the mechanisms of authority and compliance.
Beyond the prison study, Zimbardo’s academic contributions encompassed a diverse range of topics, including persuasion, hypnosis, cult dynamics, shyness, time perspective, altruism, and compassion, as highlighted by Stanford.
He is survived by his wife, Christina Maslach Zimbardo, three children, and four grandchildren.
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