1.4: Conformity to social roles

Question 1

Outline the aims and findings of one study of conformity to social roles (4 marks)

Answer 1

The aim of Zimbardo’s (1973) study was to test whether prison violence was due to disposition, such as the brutal personalities of prisoners and guards, or situational factors, such as aspects of the prison environment

Question 2

Outline the aims and findings of one study of conformity to social roles (4 marks).
The aim of Zimbardo’s (1973) study was to test whether prison violence was due to disposition, such as the brutal personalities of prisoners and guards, or situational factors, such as aspects of the prison environment.
What?

Answer 2

It was found that deindividuation occurred, with both guards and the prisoners themselves referring to prisoners by their numbers rather than their names