Philip Zimbardo
Welcome to the official page of Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo (1933–2024), an internationally recognized psychology educator, researcher, author, media personality, and nonprofit founder.
Philip G. Zimbardo, PhD, was a professor of psychology emeritus at Stanford University and a former president of the American Psychological Association. Highly regarded as a generous teacher and mentor, he inspired thousands of students and educators to become interested in the field of psychology. His passionate approach to the ethos of “giving psychology away”—introducing academic and non-academic audiences alike to the field and its real-world applications—led many students around the world to call him “Uncle Phil.” Zimbardo became a public face of psychology as host and a co-creator of the Discovering Psychology television series and telecourse and as author of multiple editions of the textbook Psychology and Life. He authored over 500 articles, chapters, text and trade books on topics that range from persuasion, dissonance, shyness, time perspective, deindividuation, cults, and obedience to authority. Zimbardo’s popular books have often been reprinted and translated into multiple languages and include The Lucifer Effect, Shyness, and The Time Paradox. He received numerous awards for his distinguished teaching, creative research, dedication to social action, and career-long contributions to social psychology. Zimbardo founded the nonprofit Heroic Imagination Project (2010–present), which organizes educational programs globally.
For more information about Zimbardo’s career, please explore this full biography.
A statement from the family of Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo
10/17/2024
It is with great sadness that we announce that our beloved Philip Zimbardo passed away peacefully in his home in San Francisco, surrounded by his wife and children on October 14, 2024.
We take solace in the incredible legacy that Phil leaves behind. He believed deeply in “giving psychology away” and dedicated his life to using psychology to improve people’s lives and make the world a better place. His six decades of work — research, teaching, writing, and producing educational media — have been translated and shared around the world. We know he will be missed dearly, and so many of the seeds he planted will continue to grow.
An official obituary is posted on Legacy.com, where the family invites people who knew Phil or were touched by his work to share memories, which are also welcome here on the Tributes page.
For media inquiries contact: inquiries@philipzimbardo.com
On recent media
Media coverage of Philip Zimbardo since his passing has placed emphasis on the Stanford Prison Experiment. For more information please visit the online resource prisonexp.org, including responses by Zimbardo and Craig Haney to recent criticisms.
We invite you to explore our website here for an overview of the full breadth of Zimbardo’s research interests and professional accomplishments throughout his career.