Social Psychology: topic 4 ‘variables affecting conformity to social roles by zimbardo’

Question 1

What are social roles?

Answer 1

• the behaviours expected by an individual who occupies a given social position or status

Question 2

What are some examples of social roles people play in society? [4]

Answer 2

• parent, child, student, manager

Question 3

What was Zimbardo’s research in conformity to social roles?

Answer 3

• aimed to test whether ordinary people would conform to the social roles of prisoner guard and prisoner in a mock prison
• students volunteered, were screened, and 24 of the most emotionally stable were randomly assigned to roles
• prisoners were unexpectedly arrested, blindfolded, strip search and given a uniform and number with 16 rules they had to follow
• guards also had uniforms, wooden clubs, handcuffs, keys and wore reflective sunglasses to prevent eye contact
• zimbardo took role of prison superintendent
• planned to last 2 weeks
• found that guards grew increasingly abusive towards the prisoners
• within 2 days, prisoners started to rebel
• 5 prisoners left early due to extreme reactions (eg crying, rage, anxiety)
• study was terminated after 6 days
• both guards and prisoners conformed to social roles
• all ppts appeared to lose their sense of personal identity
• concluded that social roles do have a strong influence over behaviour