Perhaps one of the most infamous studies in social psychology is the Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971 under the leadership of American psychologist Philip Zimbardo. The study sought to investigate how people would respond when placed in the roles of prisoners and guards, particularly whether the behavior associated with prisons was primarily the result of individuals’ personalities or the institutional and situational conditions surrounding them. What was originally intended to be a two-week experiment ultimately lasted only six days, after Zimbardo terminated the study amid the alarming escalation of mistreatment of the “prisoners.”
Now, audiences are set to witness a modern-day take on the Stanford Prison Experiment, with Variety exclusively reporting that Netflix has commissioned an unscripted series based on the notorious study. Eerily reminiscent of the original 1971 study, Netflix’s reality version will examine what happens when ordinary people are placed within a structured system of power and assigned opposing roles for a prolonged period of time.
The official synopsis reads as follows:
“Thirty willing participants enter a real prison and are randomly assigned as guards or prisoners. Thrust into a system of power, hierarchy, and control, they’ll discover whether ordinary people inevitably conform to the roles they’re given—or whether empathy, morality, and individuality can withstand the forces pushing them in the opposite direction. As the pressure builds and the balance of power begins to shift, the central question feels more urgent than ever: Does power corrupt?”
The series, titled The New Stanford Prison Experiment, will consist of six 45-minute episodes. While there is currently little further information available about the series, a scripted version of the story, aptly titled The Stanford Prison Experiment, was released in 2015. The biographical psychological thriller was directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and stars Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, and Thomas Mann. While it’s dramatized, the film dives into the controversial aspects of the study and has earned an 84% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s available to stream on Tubi and Pluto TV.
The experiment has faced ethical criticism for decades, largely because Zimbardo assumed the role of prison superintendent. His involvement arguably blurred the line between researcher and participant, compromising his ability to objectively oversee the study as the mistreatment of the “prisoners” escalated.
Alfred Street Industries is producing the series, with Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Jeff Grogan and Mike Odair serving as executive producers.
The New Stanford Prison Experiment, will premiere on Netflix on October 21, just in time for Halloween.
Leave a Reply