Final answer:
The Stanford Prison Experiment, led by Philip Zimbardo in 1971, demonstrated the profound impact social roles and power have on behavior, resulting in the early termination of the study due to the toxic environment created amongst the participants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Stanford Prison Experiment was a psychological study that took a dark turn, highlighting the impact of power and roles on human behavior. Conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in 1971, the experiment randomly assigned 24 male college students to be either 'prisoners' or 'guards' in a mock prison. The goal was to observe the psychological effects of prison life and the dynamics between guards and prisoners. However, the experiment was terminated prematurely after six days due to the extreme and distressing transformation in the participants' behaviors, especially the abusive actions of the 'guards' and the psychological distress experienced by the 'prisoners'. In this controlled environment, a disturbing illustration of the power of social roles and norms emerged as participants became deeply invested in their roles. Even Zimbardo himself, acting as the 'prison superintendent', lost his objectivity, further showcasing the overwhelming influence of assigned roles.