conformity to social roles Flashcards
What was the aim of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment?
To investigate conformity to social roles.
How many participants were involved in Zimbardo’s study?
24 male student volunteers.
How were participants selected for the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Based on mental and physical health.
How were participants assigned roles in Zimbardo’s study?
Randomly assigned as prisoners or guards.
Where was the mock prison set up?
Stanford University.
How were prisoners treated at the start of the experiment?
Arrested at home and referred to by numbers.
What uniform did the guards wear?
Uniforms with reflective sunglasses to symbolize authority.
What role did Zimbardo take in the experiment?
He acted as the prison superintendent.
How long was the experiment supposed to last?
14 days.
How long did the Stanford Prison Experiment actually last?
6 days.
Why was Zimbardo’s study terminated early?
Due to severe psychological effects on participants.
What behavior did the guards display?
Abusive and sadistic behavior.
What types of tasks did guards force prisoners to perform?
Degrading tasks like cleaning toilets.
How many prisoners had to be released early?
Five prisoners.
How did the prisoners’ behavior change during the study?
They became passive
What explanation did Zimbardo give for the guards’ behavior?
He argued conformity to roles was automatic.
What study challenged Zimbardo’s findings?
The BBC Prison Study (Reicher and Haslam
What happened in the BBC Prison Study?
Prisoners took control and harassed the guards.
What theory did Reicher and Haslam use to explain their findings?
Social Identity Theory (SIT).
What does SIT suggest about group behavior?
People conform when they develop a shared group identity.
How did the BBC Prison Study contradict Zimbardo’s conclusions?
It showed that situational factors alone may not lead to conformity.
What real-world example supports Zimbardo’s findings?
The Abu Ghraib prison abuse in Iraq (2003).
How did Zimbardo explain the behavior of soldiers at Abu Ghraib?
He argued they were victims of situational factors.
What metaphor did Zimbardo use to describe the abusive guards?
“Bad barrel” rather than “bad apples.”
How did Zimbardo’s research influence prison reforms?
It shaped USA prison reforms in the 1970s.
What criticism did Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) have of Zimbardo’s study?
They argued participants were merely acting.
What evidence supported Banuazizi and Mohavedi’s claim?
One guard admitted copying behavior from Cool Hand Luke.
How did Zimbardo counter the claim that participants were acting?
He noted that 90% of prisoner conversations were about prison life.
What did Prisoner 416 believe about the prison?
He believed it was a real prison run by psychologists.
What limitation does this raise about Zimbardo’s study?
It may lack internal validity due to demand characteristics.
What dispositional factor did Fromm (1973) highlight in Zimbardo’s study?
Personality differences among participants.
How did the guards’ behavior vary in Zimbardo’s study?
1/3 were brutal
Why does the guards’ behavior challenge Zimbardo’s conclusions?
It suggests personality factors influenced behavior as well.
What ethical issues were raised in Zimbardo’s study?
Participants experienced psychological harm.
What was one example of unethical treatment in Zimbardo’s study?
Prisoners were forced to clean toilets with their bare hands.
What mistake did Zimbardo make as the prison superintendent?
He refused a prisoner’s request to leave “on parole.”
How did Zimbardo attempt to address the ethical issues?
He fully debriefed participants for several years.
What positive impact did Zimbardo’s study have on Psychology?
It contributed to the development of ethical guidelines.
What other influential study also led to new ethical guidelines?
Milgram’s obedience study.
What key takeaway did Zimbardo’s study demonstrate?
Situational factors can strongly influence behavior.
