Conformity to social roles

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To examine whether people would conform to the roles of prison guard or prisoner when in a mock prison

Question 2

Conformity to social roles

Answer 2

Conforming to the expectations of roles in society

Question 3

Social roles

Answer 3

The parts people play in day to day lives as members of a social group

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

10 prisoners, 11 guards
told to maintain law and order with no physical violence
volunteers with psych test
randomly assigned

Question 5

Findings

Answer 5

Harassed prisoners
1 released for psychological disturbance
rebelled
hunger strike- out in the hole
ended on day 6

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

How readily people conform to social roles may be due to deindividualisation

Question 7

High external validity

Answer 7

Winterbourne care home- abused the patients

Question 8

Ethics

Answer 8

No right to withdraw, protection from harm

Question 9

Role of situation overstated

Answer 9

1/3 were cruel, 1/3 were kind, 1/3 were fair
Individual difference
Some people could resist the pressure