i’ve done some (not as extreme) similar experiments before as part of an assertiveness course
we got one person to sit on a chair. they had instructions to try and not give up their seat
the rest of the group had to try and get them to give up their chair. people quite quickly resorted to threats and one group even carried the person, still sitting on the chair, out into the middle of a road, so they had to get off the seat or get hit by traffic! they did all this with just a little encouragement that it was fine as it was just a training exercise :you_crazy
a few people tried just asking nicely if they could sit down, as they were tired from standing; this was the most successful approach. but it was frightening what a group of apparently intelligent people would do because in authority said that they could
