Final answer:
The goal of the Stanford Prison Experiment was to make the arrests and prison environment as life-like yet safe as possible to study the psychological effects of prison life. However, it was ended prematurely due to the unexpected severe psychological distress caused to participants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The goal of the Stanford Prison Experiment was not to make the experience terrifying or to intentionally create an environment where violence was likely to occur. Rather, the objective was D) To make the arrests and prison as life-like, though safe, as possible. The purpose was to study the psychological effects of perceived power, focusing on the struggle between prisoners and prison officers. It was an investigation into how social roles and norms influence behaviors and perceptions. However, despite the intent for safety, the environment soon became psychologically harmful and ethically problematic, leading to the premature end of the experiment.
Philip Zimbardo's experiment, conducted in 1971 at Stanford University, became infamous due to the rapid escalation of abusive behavior by the 'guards' and the negative psychological impacts on the 'prisoners.' The study aimed to demonstrate the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts, but the procedures led to unintended and damaging outcomes. The experiment has been subject to much criticism for its ethical implications and the lack of replicability in subsequent studies.