Stanford Prison Experiment

In 1971 there was a psychological experiment conducted in which 24 young men were placed into the role of a prisoner or a guard; half and half, chosen at random. The experiment was planned as a two-week session in which each participant would be paid for his participation. A prison was constructed including cells, a yard and even a solitary confinement area. When the prisoners were brought in they were stripped, searched and deloused, issued prison clothes with number, given a nylon cap (as opposed to shaving the head) and made to wear a chain around their ankle. Guards were given no instructions and thus created their own set of rules to follow. They used push-ups to discipline out of line prisoners. When a rebellion took place the guards reverted to psychological tactics of discipline. The experiment got completely out of hand and was ended after only 6 days.
The psychological torture the 'guards' put the 'prisoners' through was said to have paralleled to that seen at Abu Ghraib. Guards had no reason to treat the prisoners as they did, especially knowing full well that the men were only placed into their role by chance. Foucalt discusses the power one holds over another saying "it is not the 'privilege', acquired or preserved, of the dominant class, but the overall effect of its strategic positions" (pg 26-27). The guards dominance was used to such an extent that it turned them into power-crazed monsters who in turn transformed the prisoners into compliant, terrified children.