Netflix sets new Stanford Prison Experiment unscripted series for October release
The six-part unscripted show will place thirty participants in an actual prison setting, randomly assigning them roles as either guards or prisoners
Netflix is set to turn one of the most controversial psychological experiments into a reality series. Titled “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, the six-part unscripted series will place thirty participants inside a real prison and examine how they respond when assigned positions of power and
Netflix is set to turn one of the most controversial psychological experiments into a reality series. Titled “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, the six-part unscripted series will place thirty participants inside a real prison and examine how they respond when assigned positions of power and
Netflix is set to turn one of the most controversial psychological experiments into a reality series. Titled “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, the six-part unscripted series will place thirty participants inside a real prison and examine how they respond when assigned positions of power and
Netflix is set to turn one of the most controversial psychological experiments into a reality series. Titled “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, the six-part unscripted series will place thirty participants inside a real prison and examine how they respond when assigned positions of power and powerlessness.
The six-episode series is set to premiere on Netflix on October 21st. Participants would be divided at random into two groups and assigned to play either guards or prisoners.
The premise is based on the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip G. Zimbardo and his team in 1971. The original study recruited college students who were randomly assigned to act in the role of prisoners or guards in a mock prison created at Stanford University. The experiment was initially expected to run for about two weeks but was terminated in six days as the situation escalated.
The experiment has since become widely known for its claims about the impact of social roles and environment on human behaviour. However, it met with substantial criticism over the years, including questions about its methodology and ethical standards. The original study’s controversial history has made Netflix’s decision to revisit the premise particularly striking.
Unlike the original experiment, Netflix's version will take place in an actual prison and involve 30 participants. The series will focus on shifting power dynamics, with its central question being whether power inevitably changes the behaviour of those who possess it.
Jane Lipsitz, one of the executive producers, said the original experiment had long fascinated her. She acknowledged its “serious ethical flaws” while saying that its question about how power affects ethical choices remains relevant. She described the process of reimagining the experiment as an intense and challenging experience.
The announcement has already prompted debate online, with viewers questioning the decision to turn a study remembered partly for its ethical failures into entertainment. The series, produced by Alfred Street Industries, will nevertheless revisit the experiment for a contemporary audience, this time with the added framework of reality television.