Conformity to social roles

Question 1

Where did Zimbardo conduct his study?

Answer 1

The basement of Stanford University’s psychology department

Question 2

How long was Zimbardo’s study supposed to last?

Answer 2

2 weeks

Question 3

What was Zimbardo’s role in his study?

Answer 3

Prison superintendent

Question 4

How many participants were in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 4

24

Question 5

Who were Zimbardo’s participants?

Answer 5

American male undergraduates

Question 6

How were Zimbardo’s participants screened?

Answer 6

Physically and mentally

Question 7

How were Zimbardo’s participants assigned their roles?

Answer 7

Randomly

Question 8

What were Zimbardo’s ‘guards’ provided with?

Answer 8

Mirrored sunglasses, uniforms, clubs + whistles

Question 9

What were Zimbardo’s ‘prisoners’ provided with?

Answer 9

Numbers and uniforms

Question 10

What did Zimbardo observe about the ‘guards’ behaviour?

Answer 10

They became increasingly abusive and tyrannical over the first few days

Question 11

Give an example of the tyrannical behaviour displayed by Zimbardo’s ‘guards’

Answer 11

They woke prisons + made them clean toilets with their bare hands

Question 12

What observed behaviour suggested that Zimbardo’s participants forgot it was a study?

Answer 12

They continued to act like their roles even when unaware they were being watched

Question 13

How many of Zimbardo’s participants had to be let go early?

Answer 13

5

Question 14

How long did Zimbardo’s study actually last?

Answer 14

6 days

Question 15

What concepts do Zimbardo’s findings support?

Answer 15

Identification + conformity to social roles

Question 16

What are the 4 AO3 points of conformity to social roles?

Answer 16

1) Unethical
2) RWA to Abu Ghraib
3) Demand characteristics
4) Methodological issues

Question 16

What were the 2 main ethical issues with Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 16

Lack of informed consent + not protected from psychological harm

Question 16

How did Zimbardo attempt to neutralise the psychological effects of his study?

Answer 16

He conducted debriefing sessions for years after the experience + concluded there were no long term effects

Question 17

Why can Zimbardo’s study be classed as ethical?

Answer 17

It was in line with Stanford University ethical guidelines + approved by the psychology committee

Question 18

Which real world situation can Zimbardo’s findings be applied to?

Answer 18

Abu Ghraib

Question 19

What was Abu Ghraib?

Answer 19

A military prison

Question 20

What was Abu Ghraib notorious for?

Answer 20

The torture + abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of US soldiers

Question 21

Give 2 example of the torture that occurred in Abu Ghraib?

Answer 21

Prisoners were subjected to soldiers pouring acid on them + urinating on them

Question 22

What 3 factors did Zimbardo suggests were the cause of the US soldiers behaviour in Abu Ghraib?

Answer 22

lack of training, boredom + no accountability

Question 23

What did one study find that suggests Zimbardo’s participants may have responded to demand characteristics?

Answer 23

The details of the SPE were presented to a large sample of students + the vast majority correctly guessed the aim of the study

Question 24

What type of human behaviour reactivity may have been present in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 24

Hawthorne effect

Question 25

What did one guard admit to basing his behaviour?

Answer 25

A film called ‘Cool Hand Luke’ where a prison guard acted tyrannically

Question 26

What is the issue with Zimbardo’s sample?

Answer 26

Entirely male + American - findings cannot and should not be generalised to other genders and cultures

Question 27

Why may Zimbardo’s findings not generalise to collectivist cultures?

Answer 27

As they may be more conformist to prescribed social roles due to emphasis of the importance of group needs