Prisoner No. 8612 Research Paper

Words: 650
Pages: 3

Less than thirty-six hours in, the researchers began to see their first signs of psychological issues with Prisoner #8612. He began to suffer from acute emotional disturbances, disorganized thinking, and instances of uncontrollable crying and rage. The researchers, now also starting to mold into their characters, believed he was trying to con them and get them to release him. Prisoner #8612 was offered to become an informant for the guards in exchange for no harassment, and told to think it over. During the next count (which took place at 2:30 a.m.), Prisoner #8612 told the other prisoners, “You can’t leave. You can’t quit.” Prisoner #8612 then began acting “crazy”, screaming, cursing, and going into what seemed to be an out of control rage. It took the researchers awhile to believe that Prisoner #8612 was actually suffering, and was then released. …show more content…
In order to have the parents not insist on taking their sons home, they groomed the prisoners, had them clean their cells, fed them a big dinner, played music over the intercom, and had a former Stanford cheerleader greet visitors at the desk. Once the parents arrived, they were read rules that would also bring the parents under control of the experiment and the situation they were now being placed in. The parents were under the surveillance of a guard while they visited with their son, and while they complained, they complied. The parents were now just as much a part of the experiment as anyone