zimbardo - conformity to social roles investigation

Question 1

what was the aim of Zimbardo’s study ?

Answer 1

to understand the brutal behaviour found in prisons
- investigate situational and dispositional explanations for conformity

Question 2

what does conformity to social roles involve ?

Answer 2

identification

Question 3

what is meant by social roles ?

Answer 3

the roles that we play in a social situation

Question 4

Zimbardo’s findings

Answer 4

• roles affect behaviour for example the guards became increasingly brutal towards the prisoners
• behaviour is influenced by the loss of identity - for example some p’s appeared to forget they were taking part in the study because they really felt like prisoners
• increased passivity of the prisoners in the face of increased brutality of the guards
• 5 prisoners had to be released early
• study abandoned after 6 days
• pathological reactions of the prisoners = rage, crying , anxiety

Question 5

what happened to the prisoners when they arrived at the prison ?

Answer 5

they were fingerprinted, stripped and deloused
- they wore numbered smocks , nylon stocking caps and a chain around their ankle

Question 6

what instructions were given to the guards ?

Answer 6

• that physical punishment was not permitted

Question 7

what did the guards wear ?

Answer 7

khaki uniforms
reflective sunglasses to seem more intimidating

Question 8

what is meant by a dispositional hypothesis in the context of zimbardo ?

Answer 8

dispositional hypothesis suggests that the brutal behaviour of the individuals is due to their nature or personality

Question 9

what is meant by a situational hypothesis in the context of zimbardo ?

Answer 9

a situational hypothesis suggests that the brutal behaviour was the result of the environment or situation that the individuals were in