Psychologist Philip Zimbardo masterminded this iconic experiment at Stanford University in the summer of 1971. He made a simulation of a jail and randomly assigned students to either the role of prisoner or guard. Zimbardo and associates wanted to answer the question of what causes the abuse between prisoners and guards in a prison. The experiment escalated quickly. Guards began abusing their power and unjustly punishing and harassing the prisoners. Zimbardo's simulation had morphed into something much more telling. This experiment is used as an example of the effects of power and hierarchy on behavior and is studied in most entry level psychology courses. Image source: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/shocking-prison-study-40-years-later-wha...