Philip Zimbardo, Creator of Stanford Prison Experiment, Passes Away at 91

Philip G. Zimbardo, a renowned psychologist, passed away at the age of 91 on October 14, 2024, at his home in San Francisco. He is best known for the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted in 1971, which aimed to study the psychological effects of imprisonment. In this study, college-aged males were recruited to role-play as guards and prisoners in a simulated prison environment. However, the experiment was abruptly terminated after only six days due to the abusive behavior exhibited by the guards and the severe emotional distress experienced by the prisoners. Zimbardo's involvement as an active participant rather than a neutral observer led to significant ethical criticisms regarding the conduct of the experiment. The study's unexpected findings shed light on human behavior under oppressive conditions and have since become a key subject in psychology curricula focused on ethics and the psychology of evil. Alongside his famous experiment, Zimbardo's research encompassed various topics, such as social psychology, altruism, and the psychological experiences related to time perspective. He is survived by his wife, Christina Maslach Zimbardo, as well as three children and four grandchildren, highlighting his legacy as both a scholar and a family man. Stanford University acknowledges his contributions not just to the understanding of psychological phenomena, but also raises awareness about the ethical concerns involved in psychological research projects with human participants. His passing represents a loss not only to his family but also to the scientific community, which will continue to examine the implications of his work in psychological research and ethics.