Stanford Prison Experiment revisited through a theatrical lens
On Wednesday 4 June, University of Manchester鈥檚 School of Arts, Languages and Culture hosted a sold-out event titled Playing with Cruelty: Pop Culture, Performativity, and the Stanford Prison Experiment, held to coincide with the UK premiere of National Geographic鈥檚 new documentary series, The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth.
The event, hosted in partnership with , brought together experts, students, and members of the public for an evening of exploration into one of psychology鈥檚 most controversial experiments. The new docuseries, which is set to air in the UK on Sunday 15 June on National Geographic, re-examines the famous with new footage, reenactments, and powerful interviews with those who took part, many speaking on camera for the first time.
Attendees were offered thought-provoking perspectives from the docuseries鈥� expert commentators, from the , and from the .
The discussion covered social identity and how people act in groups. Professor Stephen Reicher shared findings from his own research, dating back to the 1980 St Paul鈥檚 riots in Bristol, showing that people often act with purpose and awareness in crowd settings. He also stressed the complexity of social psychology as a scientific field because its findings can alter the very thing being studied.
鈥淧eople knew exactly what they were doing. Psychology changes who we are, and Zimbardo changed who we are,鈥� said Professor Stephen Reicher.
The panel also looked at the idea of role-playing and how it can shape behaviour. Unlike in reality TV, where everyone knows it鈥檚 a game, in the Stanford Prison Experiment, those in charge thought they were 鈥渏ust playing,鈥� but those on the receiving end didn鈥檛 feel the same. This difference in perspective led to confusion and real harm.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a difference in perspective on who is in charge and who is being played,鈥�
Two drama students from the University of Manchester, Arista Abbabatula and Minna White, who participated in reenactments for the National Geographic docuseries, also joined the discussion and shared how the experience made them reflect on the emotional and ethical challenges of portraying real events.
During the Q&A, audience members asked questions about the role of undercover police and how race and gender may have shaped the experiences of people in the experiment. The questions showed just how relevant the topic still is today.
The event was a great success, sparking deep discussion and showing the value of bringing together ideas from theatre, psychology, and real-world events. It also celebrated The University of Manchester鈥檚 role in supporting this important new docuseries.
The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth will be shown in the UK on .