Philip G. Zimbardo, the psychologist famous for his provocative “Stanford Prison Experiment,” has passed away at the age of 91.
Stanford University confirmed the news on Friday, announcing that he died on October 14 at his residence in San Francisco, although no details about the cause of death were disclosed.
In 1971, Zimbardo led a groundbreaking study that aimed to explore the psychological impacts of incarceration. He and a group of graduate students engaged college-aged male participants to inhabit a mock prison set up in the basement of a Stanford building for a duration of two weeks.
However, the study was abruptly halted after only six days when the behavior of those assigned as guards became excessively abusive, while the “prisoners” exhibited signs of severe stress, anxiety, and anger, as reported by Stanford.
Zimbardo faced significant criticism for assuming the role of prison superintendent, which led him to become an active participant in the experiment rather than a detached observer.
Reflecting on the experiment’s unexpected outcomes, Zimbardo later collaborated with one of the graduate students involved, remarking on the astonishing and unforeseen results of their work.
Today, the “Stanford Prison Experiment” serves as an important instructional tool in psychology courses, focusing on concepts of evil and the ethical considerations surrounding psychological research involving human subjects, according to Stanford University.
Throughout his career, Zimbardo explored various topics including persuasion, hypnosis, cult behavior, shyness, time perspective, altruism, and compassion, expanding the frontiers of psychological research.
He is survived by his wife, Christina Maslach Zimbardo, along with three children and four grandchildren, leaving behind a profound legacy in the field of psychology and beyond.