Conformity to social roles (zimbardo) Flashcards
What did zimbardo use
A role-playing exercise in simulated prison
What was zimbardos role play exercise set-up to do
To see what extent well-balanced people would conform to new social roles
How did people take to their roles
They conformed readily
When was the experiment stopped
After 6 days
What was the aim
To examine whether people would conform to social roles
What else did he want to examine
To see whether the behaviour displayed in prisons was due to internal disposition as factors, the people or external situational factors
What was zimbardos sample
21 male uni students who had volunteered
How were participants selected
Based on their physical and mental stability
How were the prisoners transported to the mock prison
They were arrested, stripped and given a smock
How were the guards instructed
To run the prison without physical violence
What did zimbardo find
That they quickly identified with their roles
How did guards deal with prisoners rebelling
They became increasingly abusive
How did guards dehumanise the prisoners
Waking them to force them to clean toilets
Why were 5 prisoners released early
Due to extreme adverse reactions to physical and mental torment
How was the experiment stopped early
A postgrad student convinced zimbardo that the conditions were inhumane
What did zimbardo conclude
That people quickly conform to social roles even if it goes against moral principle
What factors were largely responsible
Situational
What can cause people to differ in conformity levels
Individual differences and personality
How did behaviour of guards vary
Some showed sadistic behaviour, some helped the prisoners
What does the different behaviour of guards show
Situational factors aren’t the only cause of conformity and disposition as factors may play a role
What has the experiment been criticised for
Breaking ethical guidelines (protection from harm)
How did some guards report feeling
Anxious and guilty
How was his study ecologically valid
Private conversations monitored by researchers indicated the ps reacted to the situation as if it was real
What was strengthened as a result of the study
Ethical guidelines
