Conformity To Social Roles - Zimbardo Flashcards
What was Zimbardo’s aim?
To see if conformity to social roles is due to dispositional or situational factors
What does it mean by ‘dispositional explanation of behaviour’?
Presuming people will act according to their individual personalities regardless of the situation
What does it mean by ‘situational explanation of behaviour’?
Presuming people will act in a way which they think is required by their social role
What is expected in different situations
(Conform to the role they are assigned to)
Who were the participants of the experiment?
21 Male students
Volunteer sample
How much were the participants paid each day?
15 dollars
How were the participants chosen?
A screening test to see the people whom were the most mentally stable
What was Zimbardo’s role in the experiment?
Prison warden
What was the procedure?
The ‘prisoners’ were publicly arrested outside their homes
Put though a booking procedure:
- prisoners were dehumanised
- number names + chain around ankle
Guards given uniforms
What were the results from the experiment?
People conformed to their social roles
- guards grew increasingly tyrannical = prisoners depressed
- prisoners attempted rebellion, 48hrs after ->submissive, sad
- 5 prisoners released early because of extreme depression
How long did the experiment last for?
6 days
Supposed to be 2 weeks
What did Zimbardo assume after the experiment was over?
Participants behaviour was due to situational factors rather than dispositional
