Lesson 4

Question 1

Social roles

Answer 1

Behaviours expected of an individual who occupies a social position or status. People can conform to the social roles assigned to them

Question 2

what did Zimbardo want (1973)

Answer 2

Wanted to investigate whether conformity to social roles would alter a persons behaviour.

Question 3

Zimbardo Experiment (1973)

Answer 3

Stimulated prison was created in basement of the standford uni psychology department. 24 psychologically stable young men were recruited and randomly assigned role of guard/prisoner. Guards has complete control over prisoners who were confined in cells except for meals/ toilet privileges etc. Guards told to maintain order.

Question 4

Day two of experiment?

Answer 4

Prisoners tried to rebel- they ripped off prison numbers and barricaded themselves in their cell. Guards sprayed them with carbon dioxide / stripped them naked / took bed away/ forced them into solitary confinement.

Question 5

Next few days of experiment?

Answer 5

Guards become more creative with cruelty and more brutal. Prisoners become passive and depressed due to verbal abuse from guards/ forced them to do repeated press ups/ pushed into urinals/ left them in pitch black cupboard for hours.

Question 6

How and Why did the experiment end early

Answer 6

Guards become so aggressive that study has to be ended after only six days (meant to me 2 weeks)- concerns about the psychological health of prisoners (showing signs of severe distress)

Question 7

Evaluation of Zimbardo

Answer 7

Conformity to social roles was also found in Abh Gharib (military prison in iraq) where the torture and abuse of prisoners was much worse

Study was highly unethical (prisoners not protected from psychological harm). 5 prisoners had to be released early due to extreme reactions. Zimbardo didn’t expect guards to behave as they did so harm not anticipated.

Zimbardo took role of prison warden - got very involved & lost objective (validity can be questioned)

Guards behaved the way they did cah of demand characteristics ( thought experiment wanted them to behave aggressively)

Question 8

Why can’t we generalise this experiment

Answer 8

Gender bias since all were white males except one - all from Stanford university.