New Docuseries Examines the Infamous ‘Stanford Prison Experiment’

The Stanford prison experiment, a prison simulation that took place over two weeks in 1971, forever shifted the field of psychology and its interpretation of human nature. Now, a new docuseries by National Geographic delves into the study and features firsthand accounts from the original “guards” and “prisoners,” many speaking on camera for the first time.

Directed by Juliette Eisner, The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth explores a new narrative examining the motives of Dr. Philip Zimbardo, the Stanford University psychology professor who oversaw the experiment and gained worldwide recognition following its conclusion. Zimbardo died on Oct. 14. According to a press release, the doc examines “the power of perspective and mythmaking.”

“In the 50 years since the Stanford Prison Experiment took place, I was surprised to learn that few of the study’s participants had ever spoken about their experiences, and that their stories exposed a web of secrets, inconsistencies, and layers that questioned the experiment’s seemingly simple narrative about whether human beings are inherently good or evil,” said Eisner in a statement.  “In light of Dr. Zimbardo’s recent passing, this project couldn’t be more timely in its exploration of human nature and the repercussions of differing narratives.”

The series also brings the experiment’s participants to a replica film set of the “prison,” where they “revisit pivotal moments and attempt to find consensus — and closure — about what really happened over the course of those six days.”
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For the three-part docuseries’ final chapter, Dr. Zimbardo and his wife, Dr. Christina Maslach, sit down in one of his final interviews before his death to discuss the study, while taking a look back at his childhood and the media spectacle that resulted from the notorious event.

The film is also executive produced by Eisner, Alex Braverman, and Muck Media, and is set to release on Nov. 13 on National Geographic. It will also be available on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.