Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment

Question 1

What was the aim of the experiment?

Answer 1

How readily would people conform to the roles of guards and prisoners

Question 2

What was the experiment?

Answer 2

24 most mentally stable after screening taken to a mock prison and given roles of prisoner or guard.
Prisoners given number ID and uniform, guards given uniform.
Prisoners had rights to 3 meals, 2 toilet trips and 2 visits/week, plus the right to withdraw
Zimbardo took role as prison superintendent
Planned to last 2 weeks

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• Abusive guards, tough punishments e.g cleaning toilets at night
• Some guards volunteered for more hors without pay
• Participants conformed even if they weren’t watched
• 5 prisoners were released early due to anxiety
• Terminated after 6 days

Question 4

Conclusions

Answer 4

• Environment was an important factor (situational)
• There were also dispositional factors affecting the conformity
• Participants de-individualized due to uniform
• Prisoners became passive, guards became tyrannical

Question 5

Why is there a lack of external validity?

Answer 5

• Screen white American males, not actual criminals
• able to drop out (right to withdraw)
• paid (experiment)
• not an actual prison (similar though)

Question 6

Why is there a lack of internal validity?

Answer 6

demand characteristics - uniforms made for more extreme behaviors

Question 7

How can SPE be applied to real life?

Answer 7

The Aru Gharib prison 2003-2004.
US Army Military Police committed serious human rights violations and Zimbardo noticed similarities in behavior.

Question 8

Ethical issues

Answer 8

• Lack of informed consent (arrested at house, stripped)
• No protection from harm (psychological distress)
• No right to withdraw (Zimbardo put the research before welfare)

Question 9

Where did SPE take palce?

Answer 9

At Stanford University

Question 10

When did SPE take place?

Answer 10

14th August 1971