Identification to social roles - Zimbardo Flashcards
What is deindividuation?
When an individual loses their sense of self. This could occur when wearing a uniform, as people conform to the social roles of uniform.
What is dehumanisation?
Not being treated like a human, being stripped of their rights.
What is diffusion of responsibility?
Whereby a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when other bystanders or witnesses are present.
What was the aim of Zimbardo’s study?
To investigate the extent to which people would conform to the roles of guard and prisoner in a role playing simulation of prison life
What was the procedure of Zimbardo’s study?
1973 - Zimbardo set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford university to investigate the effect of social roles on authority.
21 male volunteer students who were shown to be emotionally stable were randomly allocated to role of guard or prisoner.
Prisoners were stripped searched, given a uniform and only referred to by a number. They were told they could not leave but would have to ask for parole.
Guards were given a uniform with sunglasses and handcuffs, and were told they had complete power over the prisoners.
What were the findings of Zimbardo’s study?
Guards treated prisoners harshly and mostly talked about prison topics during their relaxation breaks.
The prisoners rebelled within 2 days and the guards retaliated with fire extinguishers. Prisoners became subdued, anxious and depressed - 2 had to be released early. One prisoner went on hunger strike. Only 10% of conversations were about life outside the prison.
Ended after 6 days instead of 14
Shows people conform to social roles even when they go against moral principle. Situational variables are mainly responsible.
What is the generalisability of Zimbardo’s study?
Considered low as the levels of conformity may be due to the time period. Lacks temporal validity.
Also androcentric.
What is the reliability of Zimbardo’s study?
High because of standardised procedures.
However replication studies (BBC prison study) showed that by the end pts wanted equality within the mock prison. Shows reliability of methodology could alter findings.
Are there practical applications of Zimbardo’s study?
Can be used to explain importance of the situation causing behaviour. Deindividuation may have contributed to lack of control. Situation causes behaviour rather than person.
What is the validity of Zimbardo’s study?
Low external validity. Artificial environment. Many unpleasant aspects of prison life were absent, such as beatings and racism. Maximum sentence just two weeks.
However study did have some mundane realism as prisoners were arrested also 90% of conversations were about prison life.
Did Zimbardo’s study break ethical guidelines?
No protection from psychological harm and pts suffered from extreme stress. Therefore it lacks scientific rigour.
