SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Philip G. Zimbardo, the psychologist behind the controversial "Stanford Prison Experiment" that was intended to examine the psychological experiences of imprisonment, has died. He was 91.
Stanford University announced Friday that Zimbardo died Oct. 14 at his home in San Francisco. A cause of death was not provided.
In the 1971 prison study, Zimbardo and a team of graduate students recruited college-aged males to spend two weeks in a mock prison in the basement of a building on the Stanford campus.
The study was ended after six days as the students playing guards became psychologically abusive and those playing prisoners became anxious, emotionally depressed and enraged, according to the Stanford statement.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
Zimbardo was criticized for taking the role of superintendent - becoming an active participant in the study and no longer a neutral observer.
People are also reading... Napa Costco shoppers line up to be No. 1 on opening day Here's what to know about Napa's new Costco warehouse store Opening day: Napa Costco welcomes its first customers Update: Motorcyclist found dead after Pope Valley crash Motorcyclist dies after crash in Napa County Meet the Latinos in Napa County who paved the way for others Costco's gas station now open in Napa. What's the price per gallon? For years, a Napa Costco seemed more rumor than reality. Until now. Update: PG&E may cut power for up to 648 Napa County customers amid fire risk warning Update: PG&E starts public safety power shutoffs in parts of Napa County Napa educational business owner aims to pursue her passion, make a difference in kids' lives To glamp or not to glamp? Campground project goes before Napa city Planning Commission Napa Police make quick arrest after downtown bank robbery Napa County approves huge floating solar panel array Lawsuit challenges Napa County's Vida Valiente winery approval
"The outcome of our study was shocking and unexpected," Zimbardo would later co-write with one of the graduate students who was part of the project.
The experiment is now used in psychology classes to study the psychology of evil and the ethics of psychological research with human subjects, Stanford said.
Zimbardo's research also included persuasion, hypnosis, cults, shyness, time perspective, altruism, and compassion, Stanford said.
Zimbardo is survived by his wife, Christina Maslach Zimbardo, three children and four grandchildren.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.