Zimbardo's prison experiment

Question 2

Explain the method of Zimbardo’s prison experiment

Answer 2

Zimbardo divide young healthy men into 2 groups of prisoners of guards. Both are uniformed and guards are free to discipline prisoners

Question 3

State the outcome of Zimbardo’s prison experiment

Answer 3

Guards abused the prisoners as prisoners rebelled.

hell broke loose, ppts barricaded the cell, went on hunger strike
guards stripped them naked, gave solitarity confinement

Question 4

Explain the ethical argumens of Zimbardos prison experiment?

Answer 4

• Some consider the experiment unethical due to breakdowns
• Zimbardo could not have guessed it would turn out so brutal

Question 5

Explain whether Zimbardo’s experiment was generalisable

Answer 5

• It is not generalisable because the sample lacked population validity, hen studied white, middle-class men
• However the example was based on real-life experiences in a prison, so it may generalise

Question 6

Explain whether Zimbardo’s experiment had ecological validity?

Answer 6

• It lacked ecological validity because the ppts knew the setting was fake
• However they had genuine emotional reactions,
• 90% of their conversation was about the experiment

Question 7

Explain how Zimbardo being the prison guard may have impacted the results?

Answer 7

He could have a bias, and he may impact the participants. Zimbardo would’ve caused investigator effects