Netflix has released a six-part reality series that revisits the controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, originally conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo. The original study involved 24 volunteers randomly assigned roles as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison environment within Stanford University’s psychology department. Intended to last two weeks, the experiment was terminated after six days due to the extreme psychological distress and abusive behavior exhibited by participants, prompting tighter ethical standards in psychological research.

The new version, titled The New Stanford Prison Experiment, is filmed inside an operational county jail in Georgia, adding an authentic atmosphere that is reinforced by real prison sounds heard during intake. The series features 30 participants, who are similarly assigned guard or inmate roles, but with safeguards designed to prioritize their wellbeing. Notably, participants may leave at any point by invoking a safe word, “Pineapple,” a provision several individuals have utilized during filming.

While the original experiment’s findings helped highlight how situational power dynamics can lead to corruption and abuse, the Netflix series takes a different approach. Under the supervision of behavioral psychologist Dr. Alison Wood Brooks of Harvard Business School, the show does not aim for rigorous scientific analysis. Instead, producers actively intervene by altering roles and hierarchies to maintain engagement, which some critics note undermines the experiment’s scientific validity but enhances its entertainment value.

The series has drawn criticism for its premise, with concerns over ethics and the potential to trivialize serious psychological harm. However, the show’s tone is relatively mild compared to other contemporary reality programs known for extreme challenges or provocative content. Rather than shocking viewers with psychological trauma, the series resembles traditional reality television formats such as Big Brother or Love Island, albeit set within a prison framework.

Throughout the series, only a subset of participants receive substantial screen time, and many remain unnamed, emphasizing the editorial influence on narrative construction. Observations from the program reinforce behavioral insights long established in social psychology: individuals placed in constrained environments often prioritize security and order, sometimes at the expense of personal freedoms.

While The New Stanford Prison Experiment offers a fresh take on infamous psychological research, it largely serves as a form of entertainment rather than advancing the understanding of human behavior under power imbalances. Nonetheless, the show provides a compelling, immersive portrayal of the tensions inherent in prisoner-guard dynamics within a realistic correctional setting.