Conformity to social roles

Question 1

What are Social Roles?

Answer 1

The parts people play as members of various social groups.

Question 2

What was the Aim of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 2

Wanted to investigate how readily people would conform to the social roles of guard and prisoner in a role- playing exercise that stimulated prison life.

Question 3

Briefly explain Zimbardo’s proceedure.

Answer 3

• Converted a basement to a fake prison
• Volunteers were psychologically and physically screened. The 21 most stable were randomly assigned their role.
• Prisoners were arrested from their homes and strip searched and were referred for by number.

Question 4

Briefly explain some of Zimbardo’s findings.

Answer 4

• Prisoners rebelled and guards shut it down
• As prisoners became submissive, the guards became aggressive
• Prisoners adopted prison like behaviour
• Five prisoners had ti leave early due to extreme reactions - breakdowns
• Study ended after 6 days instead of 14

Question 5

What were the conclusions in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 5

Concluded that people quickly conform to social roles, even when the role goes against their moral principles.

Question 6

What are Two criticism of this study?

Answer 6

• Lack of realism - Guards confessed to their behaviour as being acting due to what they’d seen in movies.
• Zimbardo had a dual role - he was part of the observation and was deemed unethical as particpants where encouraged to continue in study.

Question 7

Give two Positives to Zimbardo’s study.

Answer 7

• Had some control over variables - increases the validity of the study.
• McDermott (2009) - 90% of prosoners converstaions were about prison life - “It was impossible to leave until their sentences were over.” - gives study credibility for realism.