Netflix series reimagines the Stanford Prison Experiment

A new Netflix reality series is revisiting the controversial 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, a psychological study led by Philip Zimbardo that investigated whether situational environments could cause ordinary people to behave cruelly.

The original experiment, which took place at Stanford University, was intended to last two weeks but was halted after only a few days due to inmate rebellions and mental breakdowns. The series features 30 participants entering a real prison for two weeks under various safeguards to explore whether power corrupts.

One participant, Shavonnah Jefferson, served as a guard throughout the experiment. Jefferson, who grew up in Chicago, stated her participation was intended to demonstrate that women are as capable as men in positions of power and to highlight the importance of setting firm boundaries.