Study paper from 2004 in the field of Sociology - Methodology and Methods, grade: 1.2, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Medical Sociology), language: German. Abstract: Behavioral researcher and psychologist Professor Philip Zimbardo studied the effects of extraordinary situations on humans in the 1970s and 1980s. Zimbardo was less concerned with outlining the personal situations, developments, and psychological case studies of individuals; rather, he was searching for universal connections between external influences and the behavior of those affected. Such influences can be observed in situations of extreme stress, such as those that occur in prisons. After World War II, there were numerous reports from prisoners about their personal experiences, impressions, and the effects of their respective situations.