Zimbardo Flashcards
Aim
Do prison guards behave brutally because they have sadistic personalities or is it the situation that creates such behaviour?
Procedure
Set up a mock prison in basement of psychology department
Adverts put in papers for ‘mentally stable’ students
Students randomly assigned prisoner or guard
Social roles were strictly divided
Prisoners routines were regulated and there were 16 rules, prisoners were referred to by numbers
Guards had uniforms eg handcuffs, keys and mirror shades- had complete power of prisoners
Findings
Slow start to simulation but guards took up rules with enthusiasm (they became a threat to prisoners physical and psychological health)
Study stopped after 6 days
After 2 days prisoners rebelled by ripping uniforms and shouted and swore at guards and guards retaliated with punishment
Guards highlighted the difference in social rules by creating plenty of opportunity to reinforce rules
One prisoner left on the first day
Two more released on the fourth day
One went on hunger strike
Evaluation
Ethical issues- zimbardo had a dual role as psychologist and superintendent so on one occasion when a student wanted to leave the study spoke the zimbardo whilst he was superintendent. Therefore didn’t see some aspects correctly
Colleagues had some control over variables- for example selection of participants e.g. they selected mentally strong people. Therefore it is a strength because we can be much more confident in drawing conclusions about the influence of roles on behaviour
Lack of realism- performances may be affected by prior stereotypes e.g. One guard based his role from the film ‘ cool hand luke’
