In Zimbardo's study, what happened to one of the participants that resulted in their early release?

In Zimbardo's study, the participant who experienced severe psychological reactions, including crying and rage, demonstrates the intense psychological effects of the simulated prison environment. This participant's emotional state indicated that they were unable to cope with the stressors of the role they were assigned, which ultimately influenced the decision for their early release.

Zimbardo's study, known for examining the effects of perceived power and authority, revealed that individuals could adopt roles in extreme ways, leading to distressing psychological consequences. The severity of the participant's reaction highlighted the study's key themes of the impact of situational factors on behavior and the importance of ethical considerations in psychological research. Such reactions were not uncommon among participants, as some became deeply immersed in their roles, prompting concerns about their well-being, thereby necessitating their removal from the study for safety reasons.