Social Influence - Conformity to social influences (Zimbardo)

Question 1

What did Zimbardo investigate?

Answer 1

How readily people would conform to the social roles in a simulated environment ‘why good people do bad things’

Question 2

Who took part in Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison experiment?

Answer 2

24 American male undergraduate students (volunteered via newspaper article) and Zimbardo who acted as Chief Guard

Question 3

What was Zimbardo’s procedure?

Answer 3

The basement of Stanford University was turned into a simulated prison. Guards were given handcuffs and sunglasses while the prisoners were given prisoner uniform. They were all paid for volunteering.

Question 4

What was Zimbardo’s findings?

Answer 4

IDENTIFICATION occurred very fast, both prisoners and guards adopted their new roles in a short amount of time

Guards began to harass and torment prisoners in a harsh and aggressive way. They enjoyed doing it.

Prisoners believed the prison was real but ran by psychologists rather than the government

Guards became more demanding of obedience while prisoners became submissive

The experiment was terminated after 6 days

Question 5

What are the strengths of Zimbardo’s experiment?

Answer 5

ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY
- Changed the way US prisons operate because of Zimbardo’s findings

DEBRIEFING
- Participants were debriefed about the aims and results to reduce psychological harm

ETHICS
- Even though the experiment was unethical it doesn’t affect the validity of the results

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of Zimbardo’s prison study?

Answer 6

LACKS POPULATION VALIDITY
- only American men so can’t be generalised

ETHICAL ISSUES
- Deception
- Lack of informed consent 
- Psychological harm 
Prisoners were distressed