zimbardo- SPE- conforming to social roles

Question 1

aim of SPE

Answer 1

investigate the factors which influence us to conform to roles we are given in society

Question 2

procedure of SPE

Answer 2

observational study- 24 males (volunteer sampling) - randomly assigned to prisoner/guard roles. Prisoners arrested at home, blindfolded, strip-searched, and assigned numbers.
Study planned for 2 weeks, but ended after 6 days - ethical issues.

Question 3

results of SPE

Answer 3

Guards and prisoners quickly adapted to roles.
Guards taunted prisoners, gave meaningless tasks.
De-individuation: prisoners referred to by numbers.
1 prisoner released after 36 hrs due to emotional instability; 3 more released later.

Question 4

strength- well controlled research

Answer 4

psychological screening used to select ppts= stable. randomly allocated roles - showed that behaviours displayed were due to social roles rather than individual dispositions

Question 5

weakness- low generalisability

Answer 5

only used male ppts + small sample= not applied to females or non uni students. this does not show reality of other places, only USA

Question 6

weakness- ethical concerns

Answer 6

ppts experienced intense psychological harm/ breakdowns but zim still decided to continue= distressing

Question 7

strength- real life application

Answer 7

abu ghraib- explains cruelty and abuse in institutional settings. guards there were abusive like in SPE. this recognised the impact of situational factors on behaviour