Lesson 4 - Conformity to Social Roles

Question 1

Social Roles

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Zimbardo (1973) Procedure

Answer 2

Investigate whether conformity to social roles altered behaviour
Simulated prison in basement of Psychology department of Stanford University
24 emotionally and psychologically stable students recruited and randomly assigned prisoner or guard
Guard had control over prisoners who were confined to cells
Guards told to maintain order

Question 3

Zimbardo (1973) Findings

Answer 3

Second day prisoners rebelled - ripped off prison numbers and barricaded themselves in cells
Guards sprayed CO2, stripped them naked, took their beds away and forced ringleaders in solitary
Guards become increasingly cruel and aggressive creating brutal atmosphere
Prisoners became passive and depressed
Study ended after six days instead of two weeks due to guards aggressiveness and psychological health of prisoners

Question 4

Zimbardo (1973) Evaluation
Ethics
Negative

Answer 4

Psychological harm
Five prisoners released early due to extreme reactions - crying, rage and anxiety
Zimbardo did not expect guards to behave in such manner so harm was not anticipated

Question 5

Zimbardo (1973) Evaluation
Zimbardo Role
Negative

Answer 5

Took on role of prison warden
Involved himself in the experiment and lost his objectivity
Told by a colleague to end experiment because of concerns over distress of prisoners
Validity can be questioned

Question 6

Zimbardo (1973) Evaluation
Sample
Negative

Answer 6

Gender biased - all male
Age biased - all students
Culturally biased - all white but one
Cannot be generalised to females, other ages or other cultures

Question 7

Zimbardo (1973) Evaluation
Demand Characteristics
Negative

Answer 7

Guards in study may acted the way they did due to demand characteristics
Participants reported after they thought experimenters waned them to behave aggressively which is why they did
Study is not valid

Question 8

Zimbardo (1973) Evaluation
Individual Differences
Negative

Answer 8

Some guards did not conform to role and were reluctant in being cruel to prisoners
Other guards were very abusive
Suggests individual differences are important in determine extent to conforming to social roles

Question 9

Zimbardo Evaluation Points

Answer 9

Ethics
Zimbardo’s Role
Sample
Demand Characteristics
Individual Differences

All Negative