Philip Zimbardo

Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist behind the ‘Stanford Prison Experiment,’ dies at 91

Philip Zimbardo, the psychologist behind the infamous ‘Stanford Prison Experiment,’ has passed away at the age of 91. The experiment, which was intended to study the psychological effects of perceived power dynamics, quickly spiraled out of control, leading to ethical concerns and extreme participant distress. As someone who had a brief encounter with Zimbardo during my time in grad school, I can attest to the mixed feelings and controversial legacy he leaves behind.

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by Zimbardo and his team at Stanford University, was initially planned for two weeks but was halted after only six days due to the escalating abuse and ethical concerns.… Continue reading