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

Question 10

what did Zimbardo believe about the reasons for aggression in prisons ?

Answer 10

• not due to dispositional (personality) reasons
• but rather due to situational
• the environment of the prison itself and conformity to the social roles created by the prison environment

Question 11

participants of zimbardo’s SPE ?

Answer 11

• 24 male students from the US
• volunteered to participate

Question 12

how long was the study meant to last and how much was paid for each day ?

Answer 12

• 7-14 days
• $15 a day

Question 13

how were ps assigned to either conditions ?

Answer 13

• randomly assigned

Question 14

what was Zimbardo’s role in the study ?

Answer 14

• chief super intendant
• lead investigator

Question 15

what did Zimbardo’s study suggest ?

Answer 15

• suggests that situational factors rather than dispositional factors can drive behaviour
• because people who were considered normal before the study engaged in abusive or submissive behaviours as a result of their assigned social role and prison environment