The Experiment(2002)

The Experiment is a 2002 BBC documentary series that places 15 randomly selected men into a simulated prison for eight days, assigning them roles as either prisoners or guards. Produced by Steve Reicher and Alex Haslam, the series investigates how people respond to hierarchies and unequal power dynamics. The study explores when individuals accept inequality and when they resist it, examining the social and psychological consequences of group-based power structures. The documentary presents findings from what became known as The BBC Prison Study, offering insights into human behavior under conditions of institutional authority and constraint.