What is the main focus of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The primary focus of the Stanford Prison Experiment was to examine participant behavior in a role-played confinement setting. Conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, the study aimed to investigate how individuals would adhere to social roles when placed in a simulated prison environment. The experiment involved assigning college students to the roles of either guards or prisoners, and it quickly escalated as the guards began to exhibit abusive behaviors while the prisoners showed signs of stress and emotional distress.

This focus on role play highlights the concept of situational power and its impact on behavior, illustrating how ordinary individuals could engage in unexpected actions based solely on the roles they were given. The ethical implications of such role-play dynamics provide significant insights into human psychology, authority, and group behavior within a confined environment.