The controversial Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971 is set to relive its notorious legacy with the launch of a new reality series on Netflix. Premiering on Wednesday, 21st October, *The New Stanford Prison Experiment* aims to explore the dynamics of power, control, and human behaviour by thrusting 30 participants into a simulated prison environment.
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The unscripted series revisits the historic psychological study orchestrated by Professor Philip G. Zimbardo at Stanford University, which examined the effects of authority and powerlessness in a prison setting. Originally consisting of 24 students assigned randomly to roles as either guards or prisoners, the study was stopped after only six days due to the extreme and dehumanising treatment that the participants exhibited towards one another.
In a newly-released exclusive clip shared by PEOPLE, viewers get a glimpse into the unfolding drama within the show’s first phase, termed the “transformation phase.” Behaviour psychologist Allison Woods Brooks comments on the evolving interactions between groups of guards, noting the inconsistencies in their behaviour. She mentions an instance involving a microwave, highlighting how the situation empowers the “inmates” to test the limits of their confinement.
The clip further illustrates this dynamic when an “inmate” queries about the possibility of using a phone. His request is met with conflicting instructions from two “guards”—one telling him to put the phone down and the other reprimanding him for touching a podium. This moment culminates with the inmate raising his hands in frustration and walking away, demonstrating an early stir of resistance against authority.
Behind the scenes, one participant acknowledges that there is a growing awareness among the “inmates” regarding their own power. “They are definitely becoming aware of their own power,” he reflects, suggesting this arises from sensing a weakness among the different shifts of the guards. Another commentator, journalist Trymaine Lee, underscores the challenge participants are posing to the established hierarchy, observing their attempts to “manipulate” the situation to their advantage.
The show promises to be an engaging reimagining of the original experiment’s intentions. A synopsis teases that as participants contend with the pressures of their assigned roles within the constructs of power and control, they will grapple with an essential question: can individual morality and empathy withstand the often-dehumanising forces of authority?
From production company Alfred Street Industries, *The New Stanford Prison Experiment* consists of six episodes and has garnered attention for its bold perspective on a study that remains deeply relevant in discussions about authority and human behaviour today. Executive producers include Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Jeff Grogan, and Mike Odair.
Jane Lipsitz, one of the executive producers, expressed her enduring fascination with the themes raised by the original Stanford Prison Experiment. She has highlighted Netflix’s commitment to backing ambitious and boundary-pushing projects as key to bringing this reimagining to life. “We were incredibly grateful to have them as our partners on this one,” she noted in a press release.
The series is poised to ignite discussions surrounding the nature of power dynamics in society, reflecting the urgent query that lies at its core: does power inevitably corrupt those who wield it? As participants experience the pressures of their constructed environment, viewers will witness a raw exploration of human psyche under duress.
As anticipation builds for the premiere, many are eager to see how Netflix’s fresh take on this landmark psychological study unfolds. Audiences can expect a thought-provoking examination of human behaviour and the complex interplay of authority and resistance when *The New Stanford Prison Experiment* hits screens later this month.