Hock Studies 37-40 Flashcards
#37 Zimbardo, P. G. (1972). The pathology of imprisonment. Society 9(6), 4-8. Haney, C., Banks, W. C., & Zimbardo, P. G. (1973). Interpersonal dynamics in a simulated prison. International Journal of Criminology and Penology, 1, 69-97.
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- General belief that the environment determines behavior more than who you are, that while we may have innate tendencies, powerful situations can cause people to act very differently. No specific hypotheses, wanted to see how people would behave when randomly assigned to prisoner or guard.
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Setting - simulated a prison setting by converting the basement of the psych building at Stanford into a makeshift prison, turning lab rooms into “cells,” complete with bars and numbers. The enclosed hallway outside of the cells became the “prison yard” and a small closet became a space for solitary confinement. The space was equipped with hidden observation cameras and recording devices.
Participants - were respondents to an ad in the local paper about a study about prison life, offering $15/day. To ensure informed consent, volunteers were told about the general nature of the study and that during the study there may be some violation of their privacy and civil rights. 24 college-age men, screened for psychological problems and criminal background, randomly assigned to role of guard or prisoner. All participants had stated that they would prefer to be a prisoner. No one received special instructions, training, or preparation.
Procedure - “prisoners” were “arrested” by the real PAPD several days after the initial selection. They were cuffed, taken to the station, fingerprinted, blindfolded. and put in a holding cell. They were then transported to the “Stanford County Jail.” Participants were assigned to “guards” to strip, delouse, and give them a prison uniform, including 4-digit numbers (goal was to simulate humiliation, repression, and entrapment). Participants were assigned 3 to a cell and given a thin mattress and blanket.
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“Guards” - used degrading, demeaning language, harassed and intimidated, utilized humiliation, made the bathroom a privilege, attempted to divide the prisoners, shot a fire extinguisher at them, made them strip, give up their beds, utilized push ups as punishment, appeared to enjoy their sadistic control. Not all guards participated in this tyrannical behavior, but did nothing to stop it.
“Prisoners” - quickly became docile, subservient, and conformed to rules, showed clear early signs of trauma and depression, begged to be paroled, agreed to forfeit payment for release, staged a rebellion, designed an elaborate escape plan, experienced rage, crying, disorganized thinking, eventually abandoned solidarity and assumed an every-man-for-himself attitude, robot-like, accepted hopelessness, dehumanization
The study was called off after 6 days, despite the original plan of 2 weeks.
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38 Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 193(5), 31-35.
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39 Darley, J. M., & Latane, B. (1986). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8, 377-383.
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40 Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 371-378.
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Theory that humans tend to obey those in a position of authority over them, even if it violates their personal ethical and moral codes.
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Milgram developed a shock generator the ranged from 30-450 volts in increments of 15.
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