Zimbardo's Research Flashcards
What was the aim of the study?
To investigate whether brutality in American prisons was due to sadistic personalities or due to social roles.
What was the method of the study? (Procedure)
The research method that was used was laboratory and it was independent groups. The IV of the study was the random assignment of prison roles.
What was the sample of the study? (Procedure)
Male, American, volunteers
What was the task? (Procedure)
Participants were screened to reduce individual differences and to make sure they were mentally stable. They were then randomly assigned roles in the prison by flipping a coin. Prisoners were arrested at their home to make it more realistic. The prisoners had a regular routines which included; shifts, meal times and visiting times.
What happened to the guards behaviours?
Guards became more sadistic and started to harass the prisoners to remind them they were being monitored. They also highlighted the fact they were in charge by enforcing the rules over small issues
What happened to the prisoners behaviours?
Prisoners rebelled against the harsh treatment by ripping their uniforms and swearing at the guards
Why did the study have to be stopped early?
The guard became increasingly aggressive towards the prisoners
What was the conclusion of the study?
People will readily conform to the social roles that they are expected to play, especially if the roles have strong stereotypes as those of the prison guards. The prison environment was also and important factor in creating the guards brutal behaviour. Therefore, the roles that people play can shape their behaviour and attitudes
One weakness of the study.
Participants did not fully know what would happen in the experiment. They suffered from humiliation and distress form the treatment they received.
One strength of the study.
A main strength of the study was the way it managed to maintain some degree of control and some ecological validity. The situation was very tightly controlled e.g. guards and prisoners were randomly allocated and were selected using a stringent criterion. The study still had ecological validity in the way that Zimbardo went to great extremes in making the study as true to life as possible, for example in the way that he had the prisoners arrested from their homes.
