Unchecked Power and Cruelty

The Stanford Prison Experiment showed how quickly ordinary people can become cruel when given

unchecked power. Within just a few days, student participants assigned as “guards”

became verbally abusive, humiliating, and increasingly sadistic toward

those playing “prisoners.” The prisoners, meanwhile, showed signs of extreme stress,

emotional breakdowns, and psychological trauma. Some begged to leave. Others became passive,

withdrawn, or dissociated. The experiment was shut down early — not because it

failed, but because it worked too well. The behavior escalated faster than even

the researchers expected. What made it worse was that oversight collapsed.