The Stanford Prison Experiment is a social psychology experiment conducted in 1971 at Stanford University by a group of psychologists led by Philip Zimbardo. The experiment was designed to understand how people behave in different roles.

In the experiment, 24 healthy, white male college students were randomly assigned to the roles of prison guards or prisoners. Prisoners were placed in a mock prison located in the basement of Stanford University. The guards were tasked with running the prison and keeping an eye on the prisoners.

The experiment was planned to last only two weeks. However, the experiment lasted only six days. During the experiment, the guards behaved in an increasingly authoritarian and oppressive way towards the prisoners. They insulted them and used physical and psychological violence against them.

Prisoners began to feel powerless and vulnerable under the pressure of the guards. Some prisoners wanted to leave the experiment, but Zimbardo refused to let them leave.

The experiment was stopped by Zimbardo after six days. Zimbardo was deeply affected by what happened in the experiment. Zimbardo explained that the experiment showed how people behave in different roles and how these roles can affect behavior.

Some of the conclusions drawn from the experiment are as follows: People tend to behave according to their assigned roles. When the guards took on the role of prison guards, they were forced to behave in an authoritarian and oppressive way.

Prisoners, on the other hand, felt powerless and vulnerable when they took on the role of prisoners. Power can influence people's behavior. When the guards realized that they had power over the prisoners, they started to abuse this power. When the prisoners realized that the guards had power, they felt vulnerable and started to give in to the guards' demands.

In the experiment, guards and prisoners became violent under coercive conditions. This gives important clues about how people can behave under coercive conditions.

Several movies have been made about the Stanford Prison Experiment and based on the experiment and its results. For example, The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015): This 2015 movie is about the Stanford Prison Experiment. The movie tells the story of how the experiment was designed, how it was conducted and how it ended.

The Experiment (2001): This 2001 film is about an experiment conducted in a German prison. The film shows how people behave in different roles and how these roles can influence behavior.

The Wave (2008): This 2008 film is about a social experiment in a high school. The movie shows how easily people surrender to authority.

Compliance (2012): This 2012 film is about a woman working in a fast food restaurant who detains a customer by following the instructions of a man on the phone. The movie shows how easily people obey authority.

The Killing Room (2009): This 2009 movie is about what happens in an experiment for a reality show. The movie shows how far people will go in exchange for money.

The Stanford Prison Experiment has an important place in the field of social psychology. However, there is also some controversy about the experiment.

Some critics believe that the experiment is unethical. In the experiment, prisoners were subjected to physical and psychological violence under the pressure of guards. Therefore, the experiment is considered to violate the rights of prisoners.

Other critics believe that the results of the experiment are not valid. The experiment was limited to only 24 university students. Therefore, they argue, the results of the experiment cannot be said to apply to all people.

The Stanford Prison Experiment is an important example of how people behave in different roles and how these roles can influence behavior. The experiment has an important place in the field of social psychology. However, there is also some controversy about the experiment.