The Stanford Prison Experiment was a landmark psychological study conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo. The experiment involved 24 participants who were randomly assigned to play either the role of prisoners or guards in a simulated prison environment. The study aimed to investigate how social situations can influence individual behavior, but it had to be terminated prematurely due to the extreme and disturbing behaviors exhibited by the participants. This document provides a critical analysis of the study's methodology, findings, and criticisms, as well as its impact on modern psychology and ethics.