Expert unlocks truth of Stanford Prison Experiment in new TV show
National Geographic is set to premiere 鈥楾he Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth鈥� in the UK this month, which features expert commentary from The University of 野狼社区鈥檚 .
The gripping new docuseries revisits the infamous , but with a twist. Through accounts from the original prisoners and guards, many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time, the docuseries shares a groundbreaking look at one of history鈥檚 most notorious psychological studies.
The study, controversial yet influential, has shaped popular understanding of human behaviour for over half a century. Re-examining the experiment from a different perspective, the docuseries set out to challenge long-held beliefs around Philip Zimbardo鈥檚 鈥榞uards vs prisoners鈥� study.
Surviving participants confront the emotional weight they have carried for decades, alongside newly uncovered archive footage, dramatisation and contributions from leading scholars.
Professor Scott-Bottoms expresses the fine line between theatrical roleplay and real psychological trauma. Bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the psychological, cultural, and theatrical dimensions of the original Stanford Prison Experiment, he noted:
This wasn鈥檛 just a psychological study 鈥� it was a piece of immersive theatre with real-world consequences.
Building upon his 2024 book, , the unsettling history of role-playing in 鈥榗onstructed situations鈥� is explored through his commentary on the performative dynamic of the experiment and its wider societal implications. Students from the School of the Arts, Languages & Cultures also feature in the reenactments shown in the series.
To mark the UK premiere, the , in partnership with , will be hosting an in-conversation event on Wednesday 4 June titled 鈥�鈥�.&苍产蝉辫;
Professor Stephen Scott-Bottoms will be joined by from the , who is also among the expert commentators featured in the series, alongside , Director of the docuseries. An internationally recognised expert on social identity, collective behaviour, intergroup conflict, and leadership influence, Professor Stephen Reicher co-led the BBC鈥檚 partial reconstruction of the Stanford Prison study,
The event will feature behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the series, a discussion on the enduring relevance of the Stanford study and a live audience Q&A. It is open to the public and promises a compelling dialogue on truth, myth, and morality in psychological research.
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The documentary series, The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth, is set to air on .