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

Philip G. Zimbardo, a highly respected psychologist recognized worldwide, passed away on October 14 at his residence in San Francisco. He was 91 years old.

In general, Zimbardo's work looked at how different settings can affect people's actions. He is best recognized for his provocative 1971 study known as the Stanford Prison Experiment, which he conducted alongside W. Curtis Banks, Craig Haney, and David Jaffe. This research aimed to investigate the psychological impacts of being imprisoned and uncovered alarming ways in which situational factors can change how individuals behave. Even now, it's often referenced in psychology courses to emphasize themes related to the nature of evil and the moral considerations involved in conducting research with human participants.

However, Zimbardo's studies extended well beyond just the prison experiment. Throughout his more than fifty-year career, he explored a wide range of subjects such as persuasion, changes in attitudes, cognitive dissonance, hypnosis, cult dynamics, feelings of alienation, shyness, perspectives on time, as well as concepts like altruism and compassion.

"Phil Zimbardo is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and impactful psychologists of his time - he has played a groundbreaking role in social psychology," stated Claude Steele, the Lucie Stern Professor in the Social Sciences, Emeritus, and a psychology professor. "Nearly all of Zimbardo's work demonstrates how crucial aspects of everyday human behavior can be examined through scientific methods. This has been an especially significant advancement for a relatively new discipline like social psychology."

The Stanford Prison Experiment: Situational Forces

Zimbardo gained widespread recognition for his 1969 research that looked into the reasons behind vandalism. He believed that when people feel anonymous and disconnected from their community, it can result in undesirable behavior.

Zimbardo subsequently investigated how different situations affect people's actions in his famous Stanford Prison Experiment. Although he aimed to gain insight into the workings of life in prison, Zimbardo was especially focused on how social roles shape human behavior.

"Many individuals lead their daily lives thinking they have greater control over their actions than is truly the case," Zimbardo stated in a 1971 Stanford News Service announcement at the beginning of the experiment. He continued, "We frequently fail to recognize the significant influence that social contexts have in shaping and directing our behavior."

In their research, Zimbardo and a group of graduate students from Stanford set up a fake prison in the basement of the psychology department. They brought in around twenty college-aged men, all of whom were young and healthy, to spend two weeks in this simulated prison as either inmates or guards. The assignment of roles was determined by flipping a coin.

Zimbardo took on the role of prison superintendent, which faced criticism because it meant he was no longer just an impartial observer; instead, he became directly involved in the experiment.

As the experiment continued, things quickly went downhill, and the distinction between acting out roles and real life blurred. The results were, as Zimbardo later admitted, "surprising and unforeseen" and spiraled "out of control." Some of the guards started to exhibit cruel and harsh behavior towards the inmates. For the prisoners, the situation caused intense anxiety, deep emotional distress, tears, and anger.

The experiment, which was meant to run for two weeks, was terminated after just six days because of the psychological harm that occurred.

In 1994, Philip Zimbardo, photographed by L.A. Cicero.

Zimbardo recognized similar patterns of behavior found in prisons in various aspects of life, including schools, relationships, and even feelings such as shyness, which he examined following the Stanford Prison Experiment.

In a 1975 article he co-wrote, Zimbardo explained that shyness can act like a prison, where an individual is both the warden enforcing strict rules and the inmate who timidly obeys them. As a result, the inmate often does not earn the respect of the warden.

He established the Stanford Shyness Clinic and wrote extensively on the subject. In 1977, he released a book titled *Shyness: What It Is, What To Do About It*. That same year, Newsweek referred to Zimbardo's research in this area as "groundbreaking." Two decades later, he was recognized for creating an entirely new field of psychological research.

Zimbardo was recognized as a top authority on the bystander effect, which suggests that people are less inclined to assist someone in distress when others are around. Similar to what he demonstrated in the Stanford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo believed that people's actions are influenced by their circumstances and broader systems at play.

Zimbardo's quest to grasp how outside influences affect human actions prompted him to investigate mind control and the allure of cults. This included examining the Peoples Temple and its leader, Jim Jones, who was responsible for the tragic event known as the Jonestown Massacre.

Zimbardo was not only intrigued by how certain circumstances can reveal the darker side of human nature but also by how they might inspire the best in people. He held the view that each person has an "ordinary hero" within them. In a news piece he co-wrote with Zeno Franco in 2006, Zimbardo posed the question: "Could it be that anyone is capable of heroic deeds if they have the right attitude and environment?"

This question encouraged Zimbardo to create the Heroic Imagination Project, a nonprofit aimed at equipping individuals to step up and assist others during critical moments.

Balancing Personal Life And Career Success

Philip George Zimbardo came into the world on March 23, 1933, in New York City.

He was raised in a low-income neighborhood in the Bronx, an experience that shaped his perspective on life. As the oldest of four siblings, he carried a responsibility that further impacted his viewpoint.

During his high school years, he developed a lasting friendship with his classmate Stanley Milgram, who later became a prominent psychologist.

Zimbardo studied at Brooklyn College before continuing his education in psychology at Yale University. There, he completed a master's degree in experimental psychology in 1955 and earned his Ph.D. in social psychology in 1959.

Zimbardo became a part of the Stanford faculty in 1968, following his teaching roles at New York University and Columbia University. He gained a reputation for his motivating teaching style and supportive mentorship.

“Phil was an exceptionally respected teacher,” remarked Mark Lepper, the Andrew Ray Lang Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, and former chair of the Psychology Department. “Whenever he offered his Introduction to Psychology class, students would line up around the Main Quad eager to enroll.”

Another colleague, Ewart Thomas, who is a retired professor of psychology and was once the dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, pointed out that Zimbardo was well-known for encouraging numerous students to follow paths in research and education. Many of these students went on to gain recognition for their exceptional teaching, just like their mentor.

In 2002, he was chosen as the president of the American Psychological Association, and in 2012, he received the Gold Medal Award from the association for his lifetime achievements in psychological science. He has also received numerous other honors, including the Havel Foundation Prize in 2006 for his extensive research on human nature and the Kurt Lewin Award in 2015 for his impactful contributions to the social sciences.

Zimbardo concluded his career in 2003. In 2007, the Stanford Alumni Association honored him with the Richard W. Lyman Award for his outstanding contributions as a volunteer to the university.

Zimbardo is remembered by his wife of 52 years, Christina Maslach Zimbardo, as well as his son Adam (C. Jezzie, Jessi) from his previous marriage to the late Rose Zimbardo. He is also survived by his daughters Zara (Patrick Reinsborough) and Tanya (Michael Doyle), along with four cherished grandchildren: Clay Doyle, Philip and Victoria Zimbardo, and Taylor Epstein-Bliss.