conformity to social roles

Question 1

when did zimbardo conduct his experiment

Answer 1

1973

Question 2

why did zimbardo study conformity

Answer 2

• riots in american prisons
• wanted to know why prosion guards behaved brutally

Question 3

how many participant were involved in zimbardos experiment

Answer 3

21 student volutneers
- tested as emotionally stable

Question 4

how was uniforms used in zimbardos study

Answer 4

• prisoners given loose smock and a cap and identified by number (deindividualisation)
• guards given uniforms wooden club handcuffs and mirror shades

Question 5

findings of the staampford prison experiment

Answer 5

• guards treated prisoners badly
• prisoners rebelled within 2 days
• after rebellion prisoners were depressed and anxious
• 1 prisoner released due to signs of psychological disturbance
• prisoners on hunger strikes were force feed and put in a dark closet
• study ended after 6 days instead of intended 14

Question 6

conclusions related to social roles

Answer 6

• have a strong influence on individuals behaviour
• roles were easily taken on by all participants

Question 7

strengths of zimbardo’s research

Answer 7

1. control
   - had control over key variables
   - participants were randomly assigned roles
   - so results due to environment
   - high internal validity

Question 8

limitations of zimbardo’s research

Answer 8

1. lack of realism
   - banuazizi and movahedi (1975) argued that participants were play acting rather than conforming
   - one guards role based on film cool hand luke
   - prisoners rioted as that is what they thought prisoners rioted
2. exaggerates the power of roles
   - only 1/3 of guards behaved in a brutal manner
   - 1/3 acted fairly
   - 1/3 tried to help
   - zimbardo overstated this view that participants were conforming to social roles