Conformity to social roles

Question 1

What did Zimbardo research?

Answer 1

Conformity to social roles

Question 2

What was the Stanford Prison Experiment procedure?

Answer 2

• set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford uni
• selected 21 men (volunteer students) who were tested as emotionally stable
• randomly assigned a role of either prison guard or prisoner
• encouraged to conform to their roles through uniforms and instructions on behaviour
• prisoners were arrested from their homes without them knowing

Question 3

What were the uniforms in the Stanford Prison experiment?

Answer 3

• prisoners given a loose smock to wear and a cap to cover their hair
• identified by number (names never used)
• guards had their own uniforms (khaki), a wooden club, handcuffs and mirrored sunglasses
• uniforms created a loss of identity, meant that they would be more likely to conform to the perceived social role

Question 4

What were the instructions the ppts were given in the Stanford prison experiment ?

Answer 4

• prisoners could apply for parole instead of leaving the study early
• guards reminded they had complete power & control over prisoners

Question 5

What were the findings from the Stanford prison experiment?

Answer 5

• guards took their roles up with enthusiasm, treated prisoners harshly
• within 2 days prisoners rebelled. Ripped their uniforms, shouted and swore at the guards. Guards retaliated with fire extinguishers
• guards used ‘divide-and-rule’ tactic by playing prisoners against one another
• harassed prisoners, reminded them that they were powerless
• conducted frequent headcounts, prisoners would stand in line and call out their numbers
• guards highlighted the differences in social roles by creating opportunities to enforce rules and administer punishments
• after rebellion was put down, prisoners became depressed, subdued and anxious
• one released because he showed symptoms of psychological disturbance
• two more released on fourth day
• one prisoner went on a hunger strike, as punishment was put in ‘the hole’ a tiny dark closet
• some appeared as if they enjoyed their role (guards) became more brutal and aggressive
• Zimbardo stopped the study after 6 days instead of 14

Question 6

What conclusions did Zimbardo make?

Answer 6

• social roles appear to have a strong influence on individual’s behaviour
• guards became more brutal, prisoners became more submissive
• roles were taken on by all participants, even volunteers who came to perform specific functions found themselves behaving as if they were in a prison rather than a psychological study

Question 7

Evaluation - what does control do for conformity to social roles? - strength

Answer 7

P: highly controlled
E: emotionally-stable individuals chosen, roles were randomly assigned
E: reduced participant variables
L: increases internal validity

Question 8

Evaluation - what does lack of realism do to conformity to social roles? (+counter)

Answer 8

P: lack of realism
E: Banvazizi and Mohavedi - play acting on stereotypes copy Cool Hand Lucke
Counterpoint
E: 90% of the conversations prisoners had was about prison life
- ‘ prisoner 416’ later explained how he believed the prison was real just run by psychologists instead of the government
L: high internal validity

Question 9

Evaluation - what does the exaggeration of the power of roles do?

Answer 9

• Zimbardo may have exaggerated the power of social roles to influence behaviour
• only one-third of the guards actually behaved brutally
• another third applied rules fairly
• last third actively tried to help and support prisoners
• sympathised, offered cigarettes and reinstated privileges
• most guards able to resist situational pressures to conform to a brutal role
• suggests Zimbardo overstated his view that SPE were conforming to social roles and minimised the influence of dispositional factors (e.g. personality)