Zimbardo's prison

• Who conducted the famous Stanford Prison Experiment in the 1970s?

  Philip Zimbardo
• What was the main purpose of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?


  To see whether people would conform to assigned social roles as guards or prisoners
• What was the experimental design of the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  • Students randomly assigned to be guards or prisoners
  • Guards received uniforms, batons, handcuffs, and sunglasses
  • Instructions promoted role adherence
  • Environment mimicked a prison setting
• What items were included in the guards' uniforms during the experiment?


  Prison uniform, baton, handcuffs, and mirror sunglasses
• How did the uniforms affect the participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  They helped apply new social roles and overwrite old ones
• What instructions were given to the guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  Guards were given complete power and instructions to promote their roles
• Where was the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted?


  In the basement of a university
• What were the main findings of the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  • Guards treated prisoners harshly almost immediately
  • Prisoners began rioting within two days
  • Guards became increasingly aggressive over time
  • Study ended after 6 days instead of 14
• How did the social roles affect the behavior of the participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  Social roles changed participants' behavior significantly, with guards becoming brutal and prisoners becoming submissive
• How long was the Stanford Prison Experiment originally planned to last?


  Two weeks
• What conclusion did Zimbardo draw from the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  People readily adopt new social roles without prior experience
• How does Social Identity Theory relate to the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  • Individuals identify as group members
  • Groups are seen as superior to outsiders
  • Group membership provides self-esteem
  • Relevant to the behavior of guards and prisoners
• What are the strengths of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?


  • Control over key variables
  • Selection of emotionally stable participants
  • Random assignment increases internal validity
• What are the weaknesses of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?


  • Lack of realism compared to a true prison
  • Participants may have acted based on stereotypes
  • Ethical issues due to psychological effects on participants
• What psychological effects did some participants experience during the Stanford Prison Experiment?


  Three prisoners were released early, and one went on a hunger strike
• What real-world event did Zimbardo compare to his experiment?


  The Abu Ghraib Prison scandal during the Iraq war
• Why is the Abu Ghraib Prison incident relevant to Zimbardo's findings?


  It illustrates how social roles can lead to abusive behavior in similar contexts