conformity: to social roles

Question 1

what did zimbardo et al (1973) do?

Answer 1

• set up a mock prison in basement of psych dep at stanford
• selected 21 healthy white USA student male student volunteers
• randomly assigned to play role of guard/prisoner
• both encouraged to conform to social roles both through uniforms + instructions about behaviour

Question 2

what was zimbardo’s aim?

Answer 2

wanted to know why prison guards behave so brutally - whether because they have sadistic personalities or it was their social role that created such behaviour

Question 3

how were uniforms and instructions about behaviour used in the SPE?

Answer 3

• the uniforms created de-individuation meaning they would be more likely to conform to the perceived social role
• prisoners = loose smock to wear + cap to cover hair + identified with number (names never used)
• guards = own uniform reflecting status of role + wooden club, handcuffs + mirror shades
• further encouraged to identify with role with several procedures
  ex:
• rather than leaving study early prisoners could ‘apply for parole’
• guards encouraged by being reminded had complete power over prisoners

Question 4

what were the findings of the SPE related to social roles for guards?

Answer 4

• guards took roles with enthusiasm + treating prisoners harshly - within two days prisoners rebelled - ripped unforms - shouting + guards retaliated with fire extinguishers
• harassed prisoners constantly reminding them powerless - ex conducted freq headcounts when prisoners stand in line + call out numbers
• highlighted diffs in SRs by creating opps to enforce rules + admin punishments
• guards identified more + more closely with their role - behaviour became increasingly brutal + aggressive - some appearing to enjoy power
• when one prisoner went hunger-strike- force feed + punish by putting him in tiny dark closet

Question 5

what were the findings of the SPE related to social roles for prisoners?

Answer 5

• after rebellion put down prisoners became subdued, depressed + anxious
• one released - symptoms of psychological disturbance - two more released on fourth day
• zimbardo ended study after 6 days instead of intended 14

Question 6

what are the conclusions of the SPE related to social roles?

Answer 6

• social roles appear to have strong influence on individuals behaviour - guards became brutal + prisoners submissive
• such roles easily taken on by all ptps - even volunteers who came to perform specific functions found themselves behaving as if were in a prison rather than psych study

Question 7

how did the uniforms create deindividuation?

Answer 7

• prisoners dehumanised by wearing loose fitting smock, nylon stocking cap + referred to by number not name
• guards - wearing uniform, reflective sunglasses + bring referred to only as ‘mr. correctional officer’

Question 8

evaluate spe

Answer 8

+ control
+ practical application
- lack realism
- exaggeration
- ethics
+ questionnaire

Question 9

how is control a strength of the spe?

Answer 9

• zim + colleagues had control over key variables - selection of ptps - emotionally-stable individuals chosen + randomly assigned to roles guard/prisoner
• can rule out individual personality diffs as exp of findings - if guards + prisoners behaved diff + in those roles by chance - beh due to role
• internal validity = high - supp roles in conf

Question 10

how is practical application a strength of spe?

Answer 10

• altered the way US prisons are run
• juveniles accused of federal crimes no longer housed before trial with adult prisoners (due to the risk of violence against them)

Question 11

how is lack of realism a limitation of the spe?

Answer 11

• one guard claimed based his role on brutal character from a film - ‘cool hand luke’ shows performances were artificial
• findings of SPE tell us little about conformity to social roles in actual prisons

Question 12

how is exaggeration a limitation of the spe?

Answer 12

• exaggeration of power of social roles
• only 1/3 behaved in brutal manner
• another third applied rules fairly and rest actively tried help and support prisoners sympathising offering cigs and reinstating privileges
• most guards able to resist situational pressures to conform - zim minimised influence of dispositional factors

Question 13

what are ethical issues of the spe?

Answer 13

• ptps subdued, depressed + anxious + one left after 2 days
• zim did not halt - failed in duty to protect their welfare
• lack of fully informed consent as participants were not aware of the full procedure eg. surprise arrest no protection from psychological harm
• BUT questionnaire shows there were no lasting negative effects