Social Influence - 1.1 Conformity - Zimbardo Flashcards
What is the main focus of Zimbardo’s conformity research?
The main focus is to understand how situational factors influence individuals to conform to social roles.
What famous study did Philip Zimbardo conduct in 1971?
The Stanford prison experiment.
True or False: The Stanford prison experiment was designed to study the effects of incarceration on behavior.
True.
What roles were participants assigned in the Stanford prison experiment?
Participants were assigned the roles of either guards or prisoners.
Fill in the blank: The Stanford prison experiment took place at __________ University.
Stanford.
What was the duration of the Stanford prison experiment before it was terminated?
The experiment was terminated after six days, although it was planned to last two weeks.
Short Answer: How did the guards behave during the experiment?
The guards exhibited increasingly abusive and authoritarian behavior toward the prisoners.
What ethical concerns arose from the Stanford prison experiment?
Concerns included psychological harm to participants and lack of informed consent.
Short Answer: What did Zimbardo conclude about human nature from his experiment?
He concluded that situational contexts can lead ordinary people to commit acts they would typically find reprehensible.
What did the ‘guards’ use to exert control over the ‘prisoners’?
They used psychological manipulation, humiliation, and physical intimidation.
Fill in the blank: The Stanford prison experiment demonstrated the ease with which people can conform to __________ roles.
social.
Short Answer: What was one significant effect on the prisoners during the experiment?
They experienced emotional distress and feelings of powerlessness.
What is the significance of the term ‘deindividuation’ in Zimbardo’s research?
Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in group situations.
How did the media portray the Stanford prison experiment?
The media highlighted the extreme behavior of participants, framing it as a shocking demonstration of human nature.
What follow-up research did Zimbardo conduct after the Stanford prison experiment?
Zimbardo conducted studies on the implications of the findings for real-world situations, such as military and prison environments.
Short Answer: What criticisms have been made about the methodology of the Stanford prison experiment?
Critics argue it lacked scientific rigor, had a small sample size, and was influenced by demand characteristics.
