Netflix is remaking the Stanford Prison Experiment as a reality series. Let’s hope it’s more ethical than the original
Netflix is billing its new series as a ‘modern reimagining’ of the 1971 experiment. But over the past 55 years, the original has become much criticised.
Stanford University psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment in 1971, transforming the university's basement into a mock prison to study the impact of prison environments, labels, and dehumanization on regular people. Twenty-four college-aged men were randomly assigned to be either prisoners or guards, with guards receiving uniforms and training in maintaining order, while prisoners were arrested by Palo Alto police, booked, fingerprinted, and strip-searched before receiving their dehumanizing uniforms.
The study was intended to last 14 days, but Zimbardo terminated it after only six days due to the overwhelming negative effects it had on both the guards and prisoners. The experiment has become a well-known example of how situational and environmental factors can drive individuals to behave in ways that are drastically different from their everyday actions.
However, many researchers consider the study to be unethical and flawed due to the researcher's influence on the guards' behavior and the potential demand characteristics.
Zimbardo later reflected on the study and its implications in a 1973 paper, acknowledging the philosophical consequences and justifying it based on its outcomes, but many other researchers have dismissed it as unscientific and unethical. The Stanford Prison Experiment has influenced subsequent research and contributed to increased protections for research participants, with the American National Research Act of 1974 establishing ethical approval as a standard in research.
While law enforcement and prison guards are expected to maintain authority and control, they are also required to prioritize the health, wellbeing, and support of those under their supervision, with extensive training, oversight, and accountability.
Netflix plans to remake the Stanford Prison Experiment as a reality TV series, raising concerns about ethics, oversight, and the potential consequences for participants and producers. The show's "guards" and "wardens" may face greater scrutiny and pressure due to the fame and influence of a major streaming platform, and questions remain about the behavior and accountability of those involved.
The remake will undoubtedly be compared to the original experiment, sparking discussions about whether its events will be replicated and what we can expect from its portrayal.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
