Conformity to social roles Zimbardo

Question 1

Aim of Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment
(haney et al)

Answer 1

To investigate the extent to which people would conform to the roles of guard and prisoner in a role playing simulation of prison life.

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

-Set in a basement of a psychology department.
-24 male student volunteers who were emotionally stable
-randomly assigned to either the role of prisoner or prison guard.
- ‘prisoners’ were Unexpectedly arrested at home
-prisoners were given prison uniforms and guards were given guard uniforms and sunglasses(prevent eye contact)
-Intended to last for two weeks.

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

-the guards grew increasingly tyrannical and abusive towards prisoners.Some guards were so enthusiastic about the roles that they did extra hours without pay.
-5 prisoners had to be released early because of their extreme reactions(anxiety/crying).
-over the course of 6 days the guards became increasingly sadistic and the prisoners became increasingly passive.
-the research was terminated after 6 days due to the intervention of Zimbardo’s girlfriend.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

-This study demonstrated that both guards and prisoners conformed to their social roles.
-the roles were easily taken on by the participants.

Question 5

Define social roles

Answer 5

The part we play as members of various social groups . These are accompanied by various expectations of the behaviour of certain roles.