Zimbardo's experiment Flashcards
Aim of experiment
Examine if people conform to the social roles of a prison guard or prisoner, when placed in a mock prison environment. Also wanted to examine whether the behaviour displayed in prisons was due to internal dispositional factors, the people themselves, or external situational factors, the environment and conditions.
How were participants selected?
24 male university students who volunteered in response to a newspaper advert. Ps selected with average phys and mental stability. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two social roles, prisoners or guards.
How long was the experiment set to last? How long did it actually last?
Was supposed to last for 2 weeks, ended after 6th day.
Describe the mock arrest
arrested by real local police; fingerprinted, stripped and given numbered smocked to wear, with chains placed around their ankles.
How were guards dressed?
uniforms, dark reflective sunglasses, handcuffs and a truncheon.
How did the experiment start?
Ps identified with their roles quickly, prisoners rebelled at first but spirits were broken quickly. Guards grew aggressive.
How many Ps were released early?
5; they were having nervous breakdowns, crying and experiencing severe anxiety.
What did Zimbardo conclude?
People quickly conform to social roles, even when the role goes against their moral principles. Participants selected were extremely average- suggesting this was due to external/situational factors and not dispositional ones.
Ethics of the experiment
Extremely unethical. Participants could not withdraw when they wanted. Extreme psychological harm inflicted. Reduces the credibility of psychology as a science.
Weakness in regards to sample
Low population validity- gender bias and culture bias. Findings are not applicable to the entire population- even if these people are supposedly average people.
Advantages in regards to variable control
High variable control, Ps were screened for emotional stability and mental issues prior. Can establish that anything that happened was due to social roles and not anything else.
Ecological validity
The experiment emulates a prison environment- giving it high ecological validity. It’s applicable to real life scenarios and reflects prisons accurately.
pop validity
low because all Ps were male
