Social Influence- Conformity to Social Roles

Question 1

What are social roles?

Answer 1

Sets of behaviours and expectations that come with holding different positions in society

Question 2

What happens when we accept a role?

Answer 2

We internalise the expectations so that they shape our behaviour

Question 3

What was Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 3

• Male students recruited to act as either guards or prisoners in a mock prison
• Randomly assigned roles after being psychologically tested
• Prisoners arrested and taken to prison, given uniforms and numbers
• Guards wore uniforms and mirrored sunglasses

Question 4

What were the results of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 4

• Guards tried to assert authority and prisoners resisted
• Prisoners rebelled
• Experiment abandoned early as prisoners became distressed

Question 5

What was the conclusion of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 5

• Adopted social roles quickly

- Shows social roles can influence behaviour