Zimbardo Flashcards
When
1973
What did zimbardo do?
Set up a mock jail in Stanford university to investigate whether the brutality of guards was a result of a sadistic personality or created by the situation
Sample?
24 male students tested to be emotionally stable. They were randomly assigned roles as a guard or prisoner.
Prisoners
Lost their sense of individuality - names were never used, only numbers.
Guards
Had their own uniform - shades, handcuffs and a wooden club
Prisoner response
Rebelled at first but conformed to their role quickly, they became subdued and anxious. Many were psychologically disturbed and had to be released.
Guard response
Became brutal and aggressive. They harassed prisoners and punished them over slight misdemeanours.
Conclusion
Demonstrated the power of the situation and how it influenced people’s behaviour. Guards, prisoners and researchers all conformed to their social roles.
LIMITATION: lacked realism
Zimbardos counter argument.
Banuazizi and mohavedi argued that participants were play acting as their behaviour reflected stereotypes. Reduces validity.
Zimbardo said 90% of participants conversation were about prison life
STRENGTH: internal validity
Controlled variables by recruiting only emotionally stable males. This shows that behaviour was solely due to situation and not personality.
LIMITATION: exaggerated conclusions
From (1973) highlighted how only a third of guards acting aggressively towards the prisoners.
LIMITATION: couldn’t be replicated
Reicher and Haslam (2006) found prisoners took control in their study as they managed to develop a shared social identity. They believe the guards did the same in zimbardos study rather than conforming to roles.
LIMITATION: unethical
Participants suffered psychological harm. When asked to leave zimbardo acted as a worried superintendent, this conflicted with his role as a researcher.
