Zimbardo (1973) - A01

Question 1

What are social roles?

Answer 1

The parts people play as a member of a social group, which are accompanied by expectations of what is appropriate behaviour

Question 2

What are the aims of Zimbardo’s experiment?

Answer 2

To test conformity roles in a prison environment

Question 3

How many participants were a part of Zimbardo’s experiment?

Answer 3

24 male volunteers

Question 4

What is the procedure of Zimbardo’s experiment?

Answer 4

• Basement of Stanford Univeristy turned into a mock prison.
• Participants randomly assigned to be a prisoner or guard
• Prisoners arrested in homes, stripped and given a numbered smocks and cap to wear and chain on ankles
• Guards were given uniforms, dark reflective sunglasses, handcuffs and a baton, but were instructed to run the prison without using physical violence

Question 5

What were the findings in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 5

• Both the prisoners and guards quickly identified with their social roles
• The prisoner rebellion was quickly crushed by guards, who then grew increasingly abusive towards prisoners
• Five prisoners were released early due to psychological distress
• The whole experiment ended after just 6 days (intended to last 2 weeks)

Question 6

What were the conclusions of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 6

People quickly conform to social roles, even when the role goes against their moral principles - none of the PPs had ever previously demonstrated these behaviours.