Zimbardo Flashcards
The Stanford experiment
Zimbardo (1973) set up a mock prison in the basement of a psychology department at Stanford university. Selected 21 student volunteers (men) who tested as ‘emotionally stable’. Students randomly assigned to play role of prisoner or prison guard.
Prisoners were identified by number, guards wore glasses. Uniforms created a loss of personal identity, and meant they would be more likely to conform to their perceived social role.
Guards were reminded they had complete power over prisoners
Findings
Guards took up their roles with enthusiasm, treating prisoners harshly, within two days prisoners rebelled. They ripped their uniforms and swore at guards, who retaliated in fire extinguishers. Guards highlighted the differences in their roles by creating opportunities to to enforce rules and administer punishments.
One prisoner released because he showed signs of psychological disturbance. Two more released on fourth day. One went on hunger strike. One tried force feeding him and putting him in ‘the hole’ a tiny dark closet. Guards became increasingly aggressive. Zimbardo ended study after 6 days not 14.
Conclusions
Social roles appear to have a strong influence on individuals behaviour. Most found they were behaving like they would in a prison and not an experiment.
Evaluation- strength-control
Zimbardo and his colleagues had control over key variables. E.g. selection of participants. Emotionally stable participants chosen and randomly assigned. Therefore individual personality differences were ruled out. Increased internal validity.
Limitation-lack of realism
Didn’t have realism of true prison. Argued participants were play acting rather than conforming, based on stereotypes. E.g. one of guards said they had based role off a character cool hand Luke. Suggests why prisoners rioted, they thought that’s what they do.
-counterpoint- 90% of prisoners conversations were about real prison life. Prisoner 416 later explained how he thought it was a real prison but run by psychologists.
Limitation- exaggerates power of roles
Zimbardo may have exaggerated power of social roles to influence behaviour. Only 1/3 of guards behaved in a brutal manner. Another thief tried to apply rules fairly. Rest tried to support prisoners. Most guards were able to resist to situational pressures to conform to a brutal role. This suggests that Zimbardo overstated his view that SPE participants were confirming to social roles and minimised the influence of dispositional factors.
Limitation-dual role
Ethical issues- psychological distress.
Zimbardo dual role- student wanted to leave- spoke to Zimbardo in his role as a supervisor. Zimbardo responded to him as a supervisor worried about the running of his prison rather than researcher. Couldn’t protect participants from harm.
