What started out as a self-contained university experiment turned into a media spectacle that captured the imagination and attention of the world, shaping our understanding of human nature and forever changing the field of psychology. There was only one problem: The story of what happened during the experiment was shared with the world by only one person. Today, most of the participants have gone on record to tell the whole story. Now, National Geographic takes us on a journey to discover what really happened back in 1971 and the long-lasting effects in The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth.
What Is The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth?
The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth is a three-part docuseries that offers a groundbreaking look at one of history’s most notorious psychology studies through the firsthand accounts of the original prisoners and guards, many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time. Their stories unravel a narrative that interrogates the motives of the man in charge, Dr. Philip Zimbardo, while exploring larger questions of human nature and the power of perspective.
The series premieres on National Geographic TV on Wednesday, November 13th and begins streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. Let’s take a look at the three episodes in this series.
“The Hallway”
Introducing one of history’s most notorious psychological experiments—but with a twist. The study’s prisoner and guard participants take a seat in front of the camera to reveal never-before-heard details of an event that has shaped our understanding of human nature and good versus evil for the past 50 years. Together, they track the key events that took place over the six fateful days in 1971.
“The Unraveling”
What if we told you the Stanford Prison Experiment is not what it seems? The participants reveal new perspectives surrounding what happened in the fateful hallway, putting to question Dr. Zimbardo’s long-held claims. An intrepid French researcher claims that the 50-year-old story is riddled with inconsistencies. Meanwhile, the filmmakers expose their own storytelling devices.
“A Beautiful Lie”
In a pivotal interview, Dr. Zimbardo takes a seat in front of the camera and defends his experiment and its lessons. Meanwhile, an unexpected and exciting reunion takes place that exposes new layers of the story. This isn’t a tale about an experiment debunked but rather one about the power of perspective and mythmaking.
Watch The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth
The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth comes from director Juliette Eisner, executive producer Alex Braverman, and award-winning production company Muck Media, which recently won five News & Documentary Emmy® Awards for “Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller” and one News & Documentary Emmy Award for “Science Fair: The Series.” It premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
“In the fifty 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 Director Juliette Eisner. “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.”
Through unparalleled access, The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth embarks on a gripping, ticking-clock journey through the six-day Stanford Prison Experiment with a deluge of reveals, new subjects, and a smoking-gun archive. The docuseries weaves together shocking, poignant, and sometimes humorous firsthand accounts from the very participants who were at the heart of the experiment. Then, in an unexpected turn, the series brings the 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.
In one of his final interviews, the late Dr. Zimbardo, along with his wife, Dr. Christina Maslach, sit down to discuss their own experience. The series offers an unflinching look at Zimbardo’s childhood, his motivations for beginning the project, and the notoriety he found in the aftermath.
Be sure to watch The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth when it premieres Wednesday, November 13th on National Geographic and begins streaming on Disney+ and Hulu the following day. Here is a trailer to enjoy in the meantime.
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