50 years of the stanford prison experiment: the power of circumstances over prisons’ disciplinary agents behavior

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the power of situational and systemic forces on the behavior of prison staff while exercising their disciplinary functions, in view of the wide degree of discretion left to prison staff in these activities and the corrupting power of repressive, corrective and systemic agendas that permeate the prison system. To this end, an interdisciplinary study is undertaken rescuing the famous Stanford Prison Experiment, a classic experiment in social psychology that reaches 50 years old in August 2021. The experiment highlights the strength of external factors (power of circumstances) and the fragility of internal factors (moral values, personality, etc.) on people's behaviors and pointing out that even those considered normal can be influenced, by the context in which they live, to do abominable things. In the end, it is concluded that the wide discretion granted to prison staff while they exercise their prison disciplinary power can generate an environment open to the corruption of these agent’s behavior. Especially when combined with the hostility and antagonistic position that repressive, corrective and systemic agendas create among prisoners and prison staff. This, consequently, produces an environment receptive to arbitrariness against prisoners through cruel and overly restrictive practices.