UNIT 3 TOPIC 6: ZIMBARDO - EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT Flashcards
At the start of the experiment, what procedures were the ‘prisoners’ put through?
Arrested by real police and then taken to the prison. During this time they had there fingerprints taken, stripped and blindfolded.
Why did Zimbardo carry out the research?
He wanted to investigate how poor conditions in prisons could be explained by the social roles of the prisoners and guards.
Why were the guards given uniform and sunglasses?
The sunglasses were used to make eye-contact impossible and the uniform signified power, with the baton and whistle.
How did Zimbardo recruit participants?
Zimbardo recruited participants through a newspaper ad (opportunity sampling) and from 70 people, he got 24 white males.
What did potential participants have to do before they could have been selected? Why? ∙
They had to go through an interview. This was to get rid of anybody who has experience in a prison (i.e ex-guards or ex-prisoners) and other factors to show that any normal person can act this way.
What two roles did Zimbardo take on?
He took on superintendent and maybe warden.
What were Zimbardo’s instructions to the guards regarding maintaining order?
maintain a reasonable degree of order within the prison, necessary for its effective functioning.
Explain what Zimbardo means when he says ‘the degradation process’
What are some conclusions of Zimbardos study?
-Incarceration can lead to prisoners getting prisoner syndrome
-Guards can develop pathology of power
-Ordinary people can play roles to extremes
-Proof of individual differences
