L7

• What is the Stanford prison experiment known for?


  It is one of the most famous studies conducted in social psychology.
• Who conducted the Stanford prison experiment?

  Philip Zimbardo
• When was the Stanford prison experiment conducted?

  In the early 1970s
• Where was the Stanford prison experiment conducted?

  In the basement of Stanford University’s Psychology Department
• What was the main idea behind the Stanford prison experiment?

  To examine how social roles affected individual behavior
• What type of participants were recruited for the Stanford prison experiment?

  Male college students
• How many participants were initially tested for the Stanford prison experiment?

  75 participants
• How many participants were ultimately chosen for the Stanford prison experiment?

  24 participants
• What criteria were used to select participants for the Stanford prison experiment?

  Participants were required to be mature, emotionally stable, normal, and intelligent.
• What roles were participants randomly assigned to in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Guards and prisoners
• What happened to the prisoners upon their arrival at the experiment?

  They were arrested, fingerprinted, blindfolded, stripped naked, deloused, and taken to a detention cell.
• What were the dimensions of the cells used in the Stanford prison experiment?

  6 x 9 feet
• What were the conditions of the prisoners' attire in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Prisoners wore chains on one ankle, smocks without underwear, rubber sandals, and a cap made from nylon stockings.
• What attire did the guards wear in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Guards wore khaki uniforms, reflective sunglasses, carried a whistle and nightstick, and had to be referred to as 'Mr. Correctional Officer.'
• Who took on the role of prison superintendent in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Philip Zimbardo
• Who was the assistant warden in the Stanford prison experiment?

  David Jaffe
• What were the three distinct phases of the Stanford prison experiment?

  1. Settling in period: Guards and prisoners were not fully into their roles.
  2. Authority phase: Guards took their authority more seriously, leading to prisoner rebellion.
  3. Galvanization phase: Guards became brutal, calling for reinforcements and punishing prisoners harshly.
• What characterized the first phase of the Stanford prison experiment?

  Guards and prisoners were not fully into their roles, with guards appearing awkward and prisoners not taking their subordinate position seriously.
• What event marked the second phase of the Stanford prison experiment?

  One participant was thrown into the hole, leading to a shared grievance among prisoners.
• How did the guards' behavior change in the third phase of the Stanford prison experiment?

  Guards became increasingly brutal, calling for reinforcements and punishing prisoners harshly.
• What was the impact of the guards' actions on the prisoners during the Stanford prison experiment?


  Prisoners were taunted, humiliated, and subjected to harsh punishments, leading to emotional breakdowns.
• What did Zimbardo conclude about the nature of the guards and prisoners in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Ordinary people can be transformed by their immediate context to perform brutal acts.
• What does Browning's (1992) book "Ordinary Men" document in relation to the Stanford prison experiment?

  It documents how ordinary men succumbed to a system that led to the murder of 38,000 Jews.
• What did Zimbardo claim about the nature of brutality in the context of the Stanford prison experiment?

  Brutality was a natural consequence of becoming a guard.
• What did Zimbardo suggest about the creation of fear in the Stanford prison experiment?

  He suggested that a sense of fear could be created to control the prisoners.
• What was the significance of Zimbardo's lack of intervention during the experiment?

  It suggested to the guards that their actions were acceptable and right.
• What did Carnahan and Macfarland (2007) investigate regarding participants in the Stanford prison experiment?

  They compared the personality profiles of those who volunteered for the study.
• What personality traits were found in those who volunteered for the Stanford prison experiment?

  They were more authoritarian, Machiavellian, narcissistic, socially dominant, and less empathetic and altruistic.
• What was the outcome for the guards in the Stanford prison experiment regarding their behavior towards prisoners?

  Only a third became sadistic, while others were kind, fair, or resigned.
• What did Lovibond et al. (1979) find in their prison study in Australia?

  In democratic and participatory conditions, guards treated prisoners with respect, while in authoritarian conditions, guards' behavior became toxic.
• What were the findings of the BBC prison study conducted by Reicher and Haslam (2006)?

  • Guards disagreed about their roles and did not receive instructions.
  • Prisoners developed a shared sense of identity and resisted the guards.
  • Guards became disillusioned, while prisoners developed a sense of efficacy.
• What does the Stanford prison experiment suggest about the acceptance of roles by individuals?

  People do not automatically take on roles; they need to identify with them.
• How can a shared sense of identity affect low-status groups like prisoners?

  It can allow them to resist oppression rather than succumb to it.
• What can lead to brutality among high-status groups like guards?

  A shared sense of identity promoted by a tyrannical leader can lead to brutality.
• How did Zimbardo's language contribute to the dynamics of the Stanford prison experiment?

  His use of 'we', 'us', 'they', and 'their' created a sense of division and encouraged toxic behavior among guards.
• What is the conclusion drawn from the Stanford prison experiment regarding cruelty?

  We need to move beyond the question of whether cruelty is a disposition or context.
• What does the interaction between person and context lead to in the Stanford prison experiment?


  It leads to tyranny and resistance, with individuals transforming contexts and vice versa.
• What capacity do people have in relation to tyranny and resistance?

  People have the capacity to support tyranny or resist it.