Conformity to social roles - Zimbardo

Question 1

Who investigated conformity to social roles?

Answer 1

Zimbardo

Question 2

Describe Zimbardo’s procedure

Answer 2

Zimbardo set up a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University.
He advertised for students willing to volunteer and selected those deemed to be ‘emotionally stable’.
Students were randomly assigned (21 male students) to the role of either prisoner or guard.
The prisoners were arrested at home by the local police and delivered to the mock prison. Here, they were blindfolded, strip searched, deloused and issued with a uniform and a number.
The guards were also given a uniform which consisted of a wooden club, handcuffs, keys and mirrored sunglasses. They were told they had complete power over the prisoners.

Question 3

Describe Zimbardo’s findings

Answer 3

• within 2 days prisoners rebelled against harsh treatment of guards. They ripped their uniforms, and shouted and swore at the guards, who retaliated with fire extinguishers.
• The guards constantly harassed the prisoners, highlighting the difference in social roles, creating plenty of opportunities to enforce the rules and punish even the smallest misdemeanour.
• prisoners became subdued, depressed and anxious. One prisoner was released on the 1st day as he showed signs of psychological disturbance.
• one prisoner went on hunger strike, the guards attempted to force feed him and then punished him by putting him in ‘the hole’, a tiny dark closet.
• the guards increasingly identified with their role of guard more and more.
• the study was ended after only 6 days instead of the 14 that had been planned.

Question 4

Describe Zimbardo’s conclusions

Answer 4

• The simulation revealed the power of the situation to influence people’s behaviour.
• Guards, prisoners and researchers all conformed to their roles within the prison.
• These roles were very easily taken on by the participants - even volunteers who came in to perform certain functions found themselves behaving as if they were in a prison rather than in a psychological study.