Reality TV Gone Too Far?

In 1971, psychology professor Philip Zimbardo began an experiment where he replicated a mock prison, filled it with volunteer guards and prisoners and study the effects of becoming either a prisoner or guard and understand their conflicting relationships.
However, after only 6 days the operation was shut down due to the violent and extreme actions the guards were taking.

Perceived as a failure and hugely criticised due to the resulting psychological trauma of its participants, Zimbardo did prove however that when given a position of power, many will enjoy it and most likely abuse the power they have been given.

As shocking and disturbing as this story is, compared to most of reality TV, it doesn't like an idea that TV executives would find too immoderate.

Take shows such as I'm a celebrity, or Big Brother, they are two shows which play on the psychosis of its participants either having to eat kangaroo testicles or being trapped in a confined area for weeks on end, not to mention in the company of complete idiots.
I would not be surprised that if Channel 4 or ITV's ratings start dropping, they'll consider the most extreme form of television. Watching a show that imitates this experiment would be barbaric and disgusting, but you would probably watch it out of curiosity.

I know that these comparisons are far-fetched yet the way TV is going and our insatiable quest to watch people suffer (X Factor), I don't think it's too long before something like this does happen.