2.Conformity to social roles(Zimbardo)

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To investigate how freely people would conform to the roles of guard and prisoner in a role-playing exercise that re-created prison life

Question 2

Sample?

Answer 2

Volunteer sample of 24 emotionally stable (determined by psychological testing) US male uni students

Question 3

Volunteers were randomly allocated to the role of P or G, what happened to them at first?

Answer 3

P- arrested at their homes, taken to prison, searched and dressed in smock uniforms
G- given uniforms, night stick and mirrored glasses

Question 4

What did the guards mirrored glasses create?

Answer 4

A loss of personal identity encouraging them to conform to their social role

Question 5

What was the only rule given to the guards?

Answer 5

Keep prisoners under control but don’t use physical violence

Question 6

Where was the study taken place?

Answer 6

In the basement of the psychology department of Standford uni which was converted to a mock prison setting

Question 7

What role did Zimbardo give to himself?

Answer 7

Prison superintendent

Question 8

Findings- what happened within a day of the experiment?

Answer 8

P’s rebelled took off their numbers and G’s locked them in their cells and confiscated their blankets

Question 9

Findings- what happened to the guards?

Answer 9

Their punishments escalated- prisoners were humiliated and sleep deprived

Question 10

Findings- what led to the experiment being called off early?

Answer 10

Was meant to last 2 weeks but lasted 6days because prisoners became depressed because of the experience and 3 prisoners were released early due to showing server psychological harm

Question 11

Conclusion?

Answer 11

G’s,P’s and Zimbardo all conformed to their role showing social roles have server power over people making normal people capable of terrible things