The Abusive and Shocking Stanford Prison Experiment

James Troup examines the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment.
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MUSIC
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STILLS
Winter rally of Nazi party members in Munich, 1922...
UniversalImagesGroup/Getty Images
1960s 1970s Group Of
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images
Stanford Campus Aerial
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Stanford University vs Ohio State University, 1971 Rose Bowl
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Prisoner with guard John Loftus, involved in the Stanford Prison Experiment.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images/Getty Images
Stanford Professor Philip Zimbardo dicsusses the Stanford Prison Experiment on August 20, 1971.
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Phil Zimbardo in His Basement
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Phil Zimbardo in His Basement
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Phil Zimbardo in His Basement
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Irak
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VIDEO
WIDE SHOT two pairs of Black and Caucasian male hands resting on prison cell bars
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CU, Prison guard opening prison cell door, male prisoner exiting (mid section)
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Cambridge Constituency
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Students walk on a college campus.
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Graduates find work hard to find:
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EXTERNAL CREDITS
James Troup
www.imdb.com/n...

[@alexisarroyo6503]

I remember learning about this in ap psychology. it was crazy learning what people could become into under a role of authority.

[@Shadowhunter420]

The problem with the study though is dude was Edging the guards on to be more violent, the wording of the ad for this study as well, this experiment cannot be recreated and for reasons

[@qowngus4223]

Coild this be the same as internalization? Or is it a different thing?

[@samharper8293]

Kinda like what we’re experiencing now, and will be getting much worse as time goes by, due to their relentless attempt at global depop, crashing the economy, and their rollout of the NWO. Complete Control, One Currency, One Religion etc. By 2030 if we live that long, you’ll think of my reply here today. 7-22. God Help Us All.

[@timothysmith8667]

@@qowngus4223 this also was a type of MK Altra. Mind control.

[@timothysmith8667]

@@Shadowhunter420 yes and a very fine line between mind control . And MK. Altra. Monarch programing .

[@Resener1]

I majored in Psych at Stanford, and this experiment was brought up quite often. I even helped run psych studies in the very same hallway and rooms that this experiment occurred in. There’s a little plaque there that remains as a memory of what happened.

[@Kumahachi8]

The Stanford Prison Experiment is a tough one because it’s actually proven impossible to replicate thus far due to the actions of at least one guard who was known to prisoners to be “play-acting,” and the fact that Zimbardo and Jaffe continuously encouraged tough behaviour from the initially unwilling guards, thus affecting the guards’ behaviour and the research outcomes. Because of that, many would argue that it was not a valid piece of research, or as dark as it was initially made out to be, because the findings were invalidated the moment the guards’ behaviour was interfered with. Zimbardo continues to argue in favour of his study despite the mountain of evidence invalidating the study, and the study remains a part of the ongoing replication crisis plaguing the field of psychology.

[@conner4547]

One of the inmates who majored in acting, faked a mental breakdown because he had a test coming up and they wouldn't let him study for it.

[@Shadowhunter420]

Yeah and the way they worded the ad for it brought in folks that were more aggressive. They did the ad without mentioning a study on prison life and the other set of people tested lower in aggression

[@iamV10010]

Thank you for bringing attention to this information. Its important that we as a society do not take information as black and white and understand the complexities of the entire body of truth.

[@Kumahachi8]

@@iamV10010 No worries. The university that I studied psychology at was very keen to shine a light on these matters, and I’m sure many other universities do the same, considering how important the replication crisis is at the moment. At the present moment, please take many of these more famous studies with a pinch of salt, as the truth about many of them is now coming to light.

[@jatdesign4495]

Think about a warden controlling the guards to do evil. So really was the evil in Zimbardo and making others evil following his commands? We will not know.

[@Hunterbiden1]

Corrections officer here, things can definitely get blurry. People definitely loose their humanity, on both sides of the bars. Power attracts the worst, and corrupts the best

[@basicpsychgirl7006]

As a psych grad, I always enjoy a bit of psychology 101. That being said, it always saddens me that more people don’t know that the Stanford prison experiment was incredibly flawed. So flawed in fact, that it is seldom referenced in modern psychological research other than as an example of how NOT to undertake research. Nonetheless, the experiment has been highly influential in the development of modern psychology - perhaps on par with Freud’s phallic giraffes 😂

[@elvinkupe1344]

There is also the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment that is a dark reminder of what people do "for the greater good." The world can be a messed up place.

[@JamesTroupActor]

That needs to be next.

[@LucyLioness100]

And don’t forget Operation MK Ultra

[@kottys]

can i just say you have such a wonderful narration voice?? not even just your voice itself, but the inflection and tone you use are perfect for the stories you tell, I cant get over it. keep up the great work!

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thank you!! 🙃

[@AdultsOnlyMagic]

@@JamesTroupActor Agreed! Mr. Troup, do you do freelance V.O. work for itty-bitty projects? Website, if so?

[@Valen1368]

I’ve heard about this before it’s really crazy what people will do when given a role of authority and being able to to almost anything it’s crazy what people will do and how dehumanizing it is

[@byRobertEklund]

The Stanford experiment is always an interesting subject to learn more about, it becomes even more engaging when narrated by mr. Troup. What a great voice!

[@princessatemma]

Access to a bathroom is a human right. This is so sad but unfortunately gives us so much information of the evils of humans

[@magical8013]

Now just imagine what happens in our real prison systems, I've been to prison multiple times it's disgusting and horrible. You learn to become a better Criminal and you're surrounded by some very disgusting nasty people. When you hang around people like that what do you think happens?

[@LesleyMtz28]

I feel like that aspect of the experiment is not talked about enough. Why set up an experiment about prison when there are so many real prisons they could’ve studied? Also, setting up an experiment like this dehumanizes prisoners. Their experiences shouldn’t be whittled down to an experiment, real life is not an experiment.

[@famousnobody4380]

@@LesleyMtz28 exactly! If they wanted to do some research they should’ve just covertly went in a real prison as either a guard or inmate, they would’ve gotten a more authentic result

[@JamesTroupActor]

That part.

[@Jonas-ew7if]

So when I started as an ECE teacher I had an older (later 40s) woman who was running the room I was in and she told me basically the same thing as the guards were. “If they don’t want to listen we can make them be bored and not play with toys. If they don’t want to do what we want put kids next to then they don’t like/get along with for lunch so they can’t talk or do things they want. It’s frustrating for them but its easier to control the room that way.” That was disturbing

[@chocolover387]

That INDEED is disturbing!

[@TheInvestiGatorYT]

Humanity's potential is scary.

[@maggiesmith5470]

Good to see actors moving up i hope your being paid what your worth because you are a awesome actor

[@-viscupcake-5646]

I got to write an essay off of the standford prison experiment and actually watched a movie that was based off it and I had to take like a day to regain myself cause it was so intense. It really shows how people is position of power can let it go to their head and in consequence can cause the suffering of other innocent people. What was worse was the fact that they watched at how badly the 'prsion guards' were treating the prisoners and they did nothing to stop this until it got to extreme lengths.

[@Avanna_Vlogs]

psych major here this is one of my favorite experiments that i learned about and it is so interesting. only one close to it is the electric shock experiment which is just if not more interesting. edit: favorite as in favorite to study not in a positive connotation. this experiment was such a violation of ethics and generally awful.

[@astrowolvez]

Man this seems more like an experiment of what unchecked power can do to a person.

[@Gloria.A]

I was thinking about your videos this morning Mr. Troup. Glad to see and hear you again. One thing I look forward to on the channel.

[@AngelicaRodriguez-fw8tt]

So I’ve actually seen Zimbardo talk and it’s absolutely insane what happens when there is “one bad apple”

[@CBatista1234]

The bad apple was Zimbardo. He allowed and encouraged this horror to happen.

[@kobra6660]

They would've done better by just using real guards and a real prison setting

[@petergriffiinbirdistheword]

Your voice is very comforting ☺️

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thank you, Peter Griffin. So is yours.

[@ruthlesson-site]

yessss it's Morgan Freeman x Neil Degrasse Tyson voice👌🏼🔥

[@cricketpickett7296]

Love your voice my guy, could listen to your narration all day 🤘💜🖤

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thank ya, CrickPick!

[@LucyLioness100]

I saw a few specials on this event over the last several years. The events of what happened are deeply disturbing & beyond insane. Thank God no one died as a result of the riots that ensued

[@kamrynjadexo]

absolutely love your voice, i could listen to it all day & listen to it at night to help me to sleep, hope to see alot more of you !

[@JamesTroupActor]

You just call me boring? 😂😂

[@kamrynjadexo]

@@JamesTroupActor relaxing😂😂**

[@jackinthebox9730]

The movie is on peak it’s so good

[@alexesjohnson4229]

This is just like that exercise the LAPD did to simulate a mob and they killed their own officer. Smh

[@LindaC616]

I'd not heard of this one. Interesting and frightening . Well done as always, James!

[@packerpf]

if you've never heard of this where have you been? it's the most discussed psychology experiment lol.

[@braeeee_]

@@packerpf not everyone is interested in psychology.

[@echoingemotions]

beautifully narrated, James!

[@a.f.stevens]

I was lucky enough to skype chat with Phillip Zimbardo; I went to a private high school in the CA Bay Area and took psychology my sophomore year. We had to do a presentation; I honestly can't remember what it was about, but I partnered with a close friend, and one of her parents was able to contact him, and he said yes to an interview! I've kicked myself often for not recording it, and I didn't even write down the questions and answers. I was just speechless at meeting the person who conducted such a famous experiment. I realize it's a pretty useless anecdote now that I've written it all out.

[@RillaGorilla420]

Crazy how some people are just gifted with a voice for narration.

[@zitofan4life]

The host startled me more than the subject material

[@mfpr98]

Yes! I love your story telling, James. Thank you for your amazing job ❤️ keep it coming, we are here for it 👍👍

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thank ya! 🙃

[@YouTubeuser328]

It’s crazy how people can change so much in the matter of 6 days

[@artemisstau]

I love your voiceee

[@nunyabizness9594]

This nothing compared to those of us that survived Maclaren Children's Center that was later called Maclaren Hall after they ran out of room in juvenile hall and started literally locking up offenders and abused and neglected foster kids. Real horror stories that the state of California covered up. Or when that was overcrowding they started placing foster kids in adult mental hospitals, medicated, and shock treatments in West Covina, like my poor baby brother was forgotten about and was deemed " unplaceable" from being institutionalized for so long. But nobody ever talks about the mistreatment and dehumanization of wards of the state.

[@pinaybaby08]

The one thing majority of my psychology professors liked mentioning regarding this - which surprisingly wasn’t talked about here (and may been been untrue for all I know) was that it was Zimbardo’s wife who “talked some sense into him as they were still just boys”. The ethical practices regarding experiments like this changed supposedly everything

[@victor9254]

the bots really love this

[@57377]

I can just imagine the high school psychology teachers and psychology professors using this video as part of their lesson plan for when this experiment is brought up.

[@jayeharrison4533]

Amazing content. Ty.

[@ericross441]

Ryan and Shane would've had fun with this one

[@twitchy5710]

During the Stanford Experiment, I recall seeing a documentary that mentioned that at one point the prisoners formed a group and called it something, but I fail to recall the name of that group, anybody here remember the name they gave to it? It was something specific like the 'The Red Towel' or something silly sounding, but I can't seem to find the documentary that mentioned it now...

[@unholybees]

I really like the James fella. Always very informative....keep up the great work

[@JamesTroupActor]

I like that James fella too. 🙃

[@irlcamila]

if you havent watched the movie they made based off this experiment i HIGHLY recommend it , no one i know has seen it and ive been telling everyone about it for ages lol

[@biedronkagirl]

best video i’ve seen on this experiment

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thanks for watching!!

[@retiredemokid1862]

Omg I just realized the narrator dude reminds me of Perd Hapley from Parks and Rec

[@Bambabababambam]

oh i saw a movie about this on netflix but forgot the name lol

[@TokenWhite777]

Next video need to be the Elan School.

[@bellaboo454]

Can y’all do more cases that are less widely covered. Like I get they’re easier to research when they’re popular but I’ve seen so much about this already

[@MagicalGirlRose319]

I think I remember this being talked about in a lecture when I took Intro to Psychology when I was in college

[@HypnotizedByJyi]

On top on all the other points making it scientifically dodgy at best, one thing that I rarely see being pointed out is that the study is used to explain 'people's' behaviour, when literally all of the participants are male. IF (and that's, again, debatable) there's any valid scientific use of this study, it quite simply cannot be used to explain 'people' when the sample is only comprised of men. But hey, it's not like psychology as a field could really use some insight from social sciences, am I right???

[@jayeharrison4533]

I think that they spoke out and said the phrase, but it wasn’t recognized.

[@helentart1980]

I want this guy to narrate my life lol

[@abacus749]

'1996'by Gloria Naylor. Between 2017 to the present we have Havana Syndrome with Frey effect experienced by 300 U.S. Diplomats. All are possibly Directed Energy Weapon experimentation on human beings.

[@Jon-eq7mt]

What’s with the bots?

[@colnixie5390]

Bless your soul I need this cause my NEA for a level is using this experiment for my non-literary and the draft is due in two weeks

[@JamesTroupActor]

Glad I could help! 😂

[@zoedenom8764]

The problem is that no person who sets out to be in that kind of position because they want this power is actually fit to have it.. if you don’t think its a service you are doing for others, a burden you carry and a sacrifice that you are willing to make.. you don’t even understand the job description so ya your not going to be able to do it properly.. the problem is us giving them the job.

[@nationalinstituteofcheese3012]

If they can “leave whenever they want” then why are they trying so hard to keep them in? 🤔

[@georgia-dz5rk]

I would lose a staring contest with him omg does he ever blink

[@rochelle8946]

Why are the comments weird?

[@scottynails]

This is so fascinating

[@Ghxsty132]

I watched this in psychology class this school year, it was really good. I’m so glad you did a video on it.

[@Ihavenoideawhatthisevenis]

Damn! This was an amazing story/case! Just wow!

[@philsophkenny]

Excellent video.

[@noorav.3462]

Unfortunately a lot of experiments were like this back in the day. Not just psychological but medical too. However it has given us a better understanding of the human psyche just as medical studies have given us a better understanding of the human body.

[@Sarahhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Great that’s no excuse tho lol you excuse cruelty just so we can make progress? The f/ck

[@thatrandomkid5995]

I learned abt this in a Science, Technology, and Society class in uni, and looking back, our reaction/reflection paper was way off than how things was discussed in this video. Still a pretty disturbing topic for freshman me.

[@zNxghtmare_7]

I remember learning about this. And I pretty sure that was happened

[@blakemarshall6374]

Bring back the ghoul boys

[@katpeterson7895]

This experiment was so flawed they only chose individuals who were predisposed to violence or violent behavior they could have done a cross sectional study to yield better results what about how adding a group of volunteer prisoners who were not predisposed to violence

[@nullpoint9211]

Fascinating subject, but the weird pauses in random places really took me out of it

[@chelseatieman]

Totally unrelated, but you have beautiful skin and teeth!

[@JamesTroupActor]

Oh wow! Thank you!! 🙃

[@madeleinereads]

I remember learning about this in my college psychology class. Holy moly. My mind was blown, and I remember feeling pretty freaked out.

[@markthomas8680]

So the joker theory..

[@BigClutchMarek]

The movie clean af.!

[@wafflesofjustice]

5:20 obviously a valid critique as it doesn’t match prison or US population demographics, but what does he mean by this?

[@boukhalsoumia374]

Teddy Daniels was right in Shutter Island 😱😱😱😔😔😔😔😐😐😐🥺🥺🥺😭😭

[@cjbantilo1666]

does psychology need to be cruel in studying or experimenting?

[@TheAazah]

Yes otherwise they wouldn't know how people react In certain situations. As cruel as it is we wouldn't have diagnosed mental health problems as we do today.

[@joshuamonroy2779]

Not the same 😢

[@Al-iu1nz]

Power and athority drives people to wickedness that's why God humbled us by going through sorts of hardships in life...

[@houstoned515]

This channel died without the spooky boys

[@NK-pr9xy]

Agreed. You can still check them out on their Watcher channel.

[@geemanbmw]

Listening to this narrator is excruciatingly SLOW!! playback 1:25 to 1.5x and you will be ok

[@kierralea6721]

Yesss I agree

[@kierralea6721]

Yes he talks so slow

[@ericmorang3903]

Any man can handle adversity. For a true test of a man's character, give him power-Abraham Lincoln.

[@vintagerachel2372]

I wonder if the experiment would have been different had it not just been all white men. Something I have always asked myself.

[@user-ht1lo7fm5q]

psychology students unite!

[@brennanhughes976]

Looking at you talk is super uncomfortable 😭😭

[@JamesTroupActor]

Close your eyes, Brennan…

[@brennanhughes976]

@@JamesTroupActor all I see is you James😭

[@leonaitasi7421]

Still waiting for the Phillipines videos

[@itskaspahoe7161]

Why tf would you volunteer for this? Lmfao

[@JamesTroupActor]

I can think of about 5 reasons, and they all start with $$$ 😂

[@donkylefernandez4680]

something about that 7 minute intro just doesn't sit right with me

[@richardsledge8000]

What is this dude wearing

[@medharoy20]

Idk but this experiment kinda sound like squid games

[@grease643]

the guy from dhar mann

[@hn1574]

jafei 🤩🥰

[@stevenguegens7047]

People do eventually learn by there mistakes so really there's NO problem here 💯 percent

[@juandeltore3169]

this channel used to be good

[@JamesTroupActor]

Right before you commented. 😂

[@juandeltore3169]

@@JamesTroupActor buzzfeed is such a crap that interns now are working in the comments section jajaja

[@JamesTroupActor]

@@juandeltore3169 and here I was, thinking I was an actor. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@leeadams4934]

@@JamesTroupActor you need more acting lessons b

[@JamesTroupActor]

@@leeadams4934 you're right about that!!

[@juxtayuth3704]

This video would've been so much shorter if this dude didn't talk so slow

[@JamesTroupActor]

It wouldn’t have been so long if you would listen faster. 😁

[@juxtayuth3704]

@@JamesTroupActor touché😊

[@maggiesmith5470]

Dang went from darr mann to buzzfeed

[@JamesTroupActor]

🤫🤫🤫 😂😂😂

[@c.j.mackay4032]

This video was underwhelming

[@Daddyme92]

Shane and Ryan looking different now a days

[@astrowolvez]

What a creative and different comment.

[@JamesTroupActor]

It's summer time.

[@JoJobaDohko]

Pleasseeeeee blink

[@JamesTroupActor]

NEVEERRRRR!!!!

[@azanmanwar]

can we maybe see less of the narrator's face?

[@JamesTroupActor]

MORE!!!!!!!!