Freakonomics Radio Is It a Theater Piece or a Psychological Experiment? (Update)
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Apr 23, 2025 
Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus at Stanford University, famously known for the Stanford Prison Experiment, dives into the intriguing interplay between theater and psychology with Felix Barrett, the artistic director of Punchdrunk and co-creator of the immersive experience Sleep No More. They discuss how immersive theater challenges audience expectations, blurring the lines between performance and psychological experimentation. The conversation touches on authority's influence on behavior, ethical dilemmas in research, and the emotional impact of unique theatrical experiences on participants.
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Audience Immersion in Sleep No More
- Sleep No More immerses audiences in a mysterious, mask-wearing theater journey with no speaking and strict rules.
- The anonymity and darkness embolden audience members to act boldly and break typical social norms.
Zimbardo's Experiment Turns Ugly
- Guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment quickly abused their power, taunting prisoners and enforcing humiliating tasks.
- Zimbardo himself took on the role of prison superintendent, unconsciously adopting authoritarian behaviors.
Situation Shapes Behavior Most
- Individual personality predicts very little behavior compared to the situation people find themselves in.
- Roles and environments shape human actions more than inherent good or bad nature.