Conformity to Social Roles - Zimbardo Flashcards
What participants did Zimbardo use?
24 ‘emotionally stable’ US male students
What roles where there and how were they allocated?
Prisoner or guard and randomly allocated
Where was the experiment held?
Stanford University
How many days was the study supposed to last and how long did it last?
Supposed to last 14 and lasted 6
What happened to prisoners when they arrived?
Deloused, made to worn smock and given ID number to wear
What happened to guards when they arrived?
Given uniforms, clubs, reflective sunglasses
How were prisoners brought to the ‘prison’?
Arrested by actual police from their homes without prior warning
What were guards instructed to do?
Instructed to run the prison without physical violence
How did the guards treat the prisoners, with an example showing this.
Guards were harsh e.g. enforced night time headcounts
Why did 3 participants drop out?
Due to nervous breakdowns
Give an evaluation about social roles in the study
The power of social roles was exaggerated. Only 1/3 of guards behaved brutally.
Give an evaluation about control over variables in the study
There was a good control over key variables. E.g. Random allocation for roles.
Give an evaluation from alternative research
Reicher and Haslam found p’s resisted behaviour that conflicted with their identities.
