1.4: Philip Zimbardo (1973)

Question 1

Many people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.

Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study (6 marks)

Answer 1

One reason is ethics, psychological harm in particular, as the participants soon became distressed

Question 2

Many people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.

Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study (6 marks).
One reason is ethics, psychological harm in particular, as the participants soon became distressed.

Another reason

Answer 2

Another reason is that Zimbardo himself was a participant observer, as he was also conforming to the social role of prison superintendent.
Because of this, he was not able to fulfil his main responsibility

Question 3

Many people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.

Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study (6 marks).
One reason is ethics, psychological harm in particular, as the participants soon became distressed.

Another reason is that Zimbardo himself was a participant observer, as he was also conforming to the social role of prison superintendent.
Because of this, he was not able to fulfil his main responsibility.

Although the distress was not anticipated, what?

Answer 3

Although the distress was not anticipated, the consent gained was not sufficiently informed

Question 4

Many people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.

Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study (6 marks).
One reason is ethics, psychological harm in particular, as the participants soon became distressed.

Another reason is that Zimbardo himself was a participant observer, as he was also conforming to the social role of prison superintendent.
Because of this, he was not able to fulfil his main responsibility.

Although the distress was not anticipated, the consent gained was not sufficiently informed.
However, what?

Answer 4

However, Zimbardo’s own behaviour affected the way in which events unfolded, thus the validity of the findings could be questioned