Experiment, The

Synopsis

The Experiment is a social and psychological exercise based on the infamous 1970s experiment first conducted by Philip Zimbardo in Stanford University and is one of the most ambitious pieces of social psychological research to have been undertaken in 30 years. Two senior British academics - Professor Alex Haslam and Dr Steven Reicher, conduct a major investigation into the psychology of groups and power. Using hidden cameras, it examines the behaviour of 15 participants who had been assigned to roles as either a prisoner or a guard within a purpose-built environment over a period of nine days. The proceedings are monitored closely by the two psychologists as well as seven independent observers who will intervene if necessary. The Experiment covers a range of issues that help to understand the way people interact, groups behave and organisations function. They offer vivid, powerful and dramatic examples that bring alive topics such as leadership and negotiation, conflict and co-operation, work satisfaction and stress, tyranny and resistance, power and powerlessness, research methodology and scientific theory. The results provide a fascinating, powerful and thought-provoking insight into a process of social, clinical and organisational psychology.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2003

Year of production

2002

Notes

First broadcast on BBC 2 on 14.5.02

Documentation

Accompanying 137-page manual on CD, conntaining key concepts, discussion questions, exercises and data analysis. Written by The Experiment’s psychologists: Alex Haslam (University of Exeter) and Steve Reicher (University of St Andrews

Subjects

Psychology

Keywords

power; prisoners; psychology experiments; social psychology; group dynamics

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£500.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

250 minutes

Year

2013

Sections

Title

Conflict

Synopsis

In this first edition, the prisoners start to pick off weak guards, the most powerful prisoner is sentenced to solitary confinement, and the guards rumble an attempted break-out. It is announced that one of the prisoners is to be promoted to become a guard, the programme shows what effect this has on the prisoners’ behaviour.

Duration

60 mins

Title

Order

Synopsis

In this edition, a new prisoner arrives, a master set of keys is stolen, and the two most forceful prisoners come head-to-head in a showdown for leadership

Duration

60 mins

Title

Rebellion

Synopsis

The oppressive conditions are wearing down the patience of some of the prisoners, while the anxiety of the guards is mounting. A reformed crack addict and an Evangelical christian form an unlikely alliance. And the guards find themselves taken by surprise when three prisoners launch a night-time revolt.

Duration

60 mins

Title

Tyranny

Synopsis

Twelve prisoners and guards join together to form a new and just society but after only a few hours four of them launch a bid for power that shocks and appalls their fellow inmates.

Duration

60 mins

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’