Zimbardo's research (SPE)

Question 1

SPE procedure

Answer 1

• mock prison, sadistic personality or just the situation?
  24 students
• randomly assigned, realism, regulated/enforced, de-individuation, uniform/names

Question 2

SPE findings

Answer 2

• prisoners rebel, harsh/over punishment, guards enthusiastic, prisoners anxious
• stopped after 6 days, everyone conforms roles, the more guards identified - the more brutal they were

Question 3

positive evaluation:

control over variables - random

Answer 3

• emotionally stable people, random assign, means behaviour because preassures of situation not personailty
• increased internal validity, confident conclusion

Question 4

negative evaluation:

understated dispositional influence exaggerated findings

Answer 4

• 13of guards behave brutal, 1/3 were fair, 1/3 supported prisoners
• zimbardo’s findings exageratted, guards know right and wrong despite situational preassure

Question 5

negative evaluation:

lacks/contradicts research - prisoners revolt

Answer 5

• Reicher, partly replicated SPE, prisoners eventually took control
• SIT explain guards didn’t identify as group but prisoners did
• brutality of guards due to social identity rather than conformity

Question 6

negative evaluation:

ethical issues -zimbardo’s role

Answer 6

• zimbardo was both lead researcher and superintendent
• student wanted to leave, Zimbardo respond as superintendent concerned for the prison, limited protection for participants