Conformity To Social Roles Flashcards
What is the key study of conformity to social roles? What was the aim?
The Stanford prison experiment: Haney et al/Zimbardo 1973. The aim was to see how p’s behave in their social roles and to observe the interactions between the two groups in the absence of an authoritative figure.
What was the procedure used by Zimbardo?
A mock prison was set up in the basement of Stanford University. 24 male student volunteers were randomly assigned to the role of a prisoner or guard after being psychologically screened. The prisoners were arrested, deloused and given a number which is how they were referred to. Guards had clubs, uniforms and sunglasses. Zimbardo was the prison superintendent. The study was to last 2 weeks
What did Zimbardo find?
The participants and Zimbardo seemed to forget that it was just a study and conformed to their assigned roles. The guards became cruel and sadistic, making the prisoners carry out degrading activities. The prisoners became passive and accepting of their plight. 5 prisoners were released 2 days later due to extreme emotions. The study was terminated after 6 days following the intervention of Christina Maslach; she said that the abuse could not be justified for a study. People descend into tyranny because they conform unthinkably. The behaviour was a result of situational factors (environment and time) rather than any dispositional factors (personality)
What is a limitation of S.P.E? (Low IV)
Hallam and Reicher argued that conformity to roles is not automatic; it is choice. Some of the guards were good; they did not harass or abuse the prisoners, and in fact did small favours for them. This shows that the guards chose how to behave rather than blindly conforming: low internal validity.
What is a limitation of the S.P.E (demand characteristics)
Banuazizi and Movahedi argued that the behaviour of the p’s wasn’t due to a ‘compelling prison environment’ but due to demand characteristics. These researchers presented some details of the SPE to a group of students who had never heard of it before, and the students guessed correctly was to see if ordinary people conformed to their assigned roles. Low IV
What is a strength of SPE?
Abu Gharib (a military prison in Iraq) gives Zimbardo’s findings validity, because they are also present in Abu Gharib. The guards here were tortuous and abusive towards the prisoners. Zimbardo suggested that it was due to situational factors such as lack of training and boredom. Combined with the opportunity to misuse the power associated with the role of guard, led to prisoner abuse in both situations
