Selects: How the Stanford Prison Experiment Worked

In this podcast episode, the hosts take a fresh look at the Stanford Prison Experiment, a well-known psychology study. They point out that the experiment was poorly designed and executed, lacking a control group and showing significant bias from the researchers. They challenge key findings, such as the idea that humans are inherently cruel and easily broken under stress, by presenting evidence that participants were merely acting and that the guards were instructed to be more aggressive. Ultimately, the episode highlights that while the experiment was unethical and methodologically flawed, it serves as a warning about the risks of experimenter bias and underscores the need for rigorous scientific practices.