Conformity to Social Roles: Zimbardo

• What was the main focus of Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment?

  To investigate how people conform to assigned social roles
• What does the social identity of a teacher require?

  To dress smartly, reinforce school rules, and be assertive
• What are the requirements for the social identity of a nurse?

  To wear the appropriate uniform, attend to medical tasks, and have a caring demeanor
• What roles were participants assigned in Zimbardo's experiment?

  Participants were assigned the roles of guard or prisoner
• Where was the Stanford prison experiment conducted?

  In the basement of the Stanford University psychology building
• How many male students were recruited for the study?

  24 male students
• What criteria were used to select participants for the study?

  Participants were tested for psychiatric vulnerabilities and deemed 'emotionally stable'
• How were participants assigned to their roles in the experiment?

  Participants were randomly assigned to either the role of prisoner or guard
• What happened to the prisoners during the initial phase of the experiment?

  They were 'arrested' at home and taken to the 'prison' without prior knowledge
• What uniforms did the guards wear in the experiment?

  Guards wore a standard khaki uniform with mirrored shades and carried nightsticks, keys, and handcuffs
• What uniforms did the prisoners wear in the experiment?


  Prisoners wore shapeless smocks with sock caps covering their heads and no shoes
• What were the guards instructed to do during the experiment?

  To set prison rules, hand out punishments, and control the prisoners
• How were prisoners referred to during the experiment?

  Prisoners were referred to by their assigned number rather than their name
• What process does the use of uniforms in the experiment illustrate?

  Deindividuation, which erodes personal identity and emphasizes social roles
• What was a significant finding regarding the behavior of guards and prisoners?

  Both guards and prisoners quickly settled into their new roles
• How did the guards' behavior change during the experiment?

  Some guards began to harass prisoners and treat them harshly within hours
• What action did the prisoners take two days into the experiment?

  They rebelled by ripping their uniforms and shouting at the guards
• What tactics did the guards use to control the prisoners?

  They used fire extinguishers, psychological warfare, and instigated headcounts
• How did the prisoners' behavior change during the experiment?

  They became quiet, depressed, obedient, and some acted as informants
• What happened to one prisoner during the experiment?

  One prisoner had a mental breakdown, prompting Zimbardo to intervene
• How did the relationship between guards and prisoners evolve?

  As prisoners became more submissive, guards became more aggressive and abusive
• How long did Zimbardo originally plan for the experiment to last?

  14 days
• Why did Zimbardo end the experiment early?

  Due to the abuse and exploitation observed by a colleague
• What conclusion did Zimbardo draw about social roles?

  Social roles exert a strong influence on individual identity
• What did Zimbardo conclude about power?

  Power corrupts those who wield it, especially if environmental factors legitimize this corruption
• What effect do harsh institutions have on individuals?

  They brutalize people and result in deindividuation for both guards and prisoners
• What psychological damage can a prison exert on individuals?

  A prison can cause psychological damage to both workers and inmates
• What are the strengths of Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment?

  • Good control over procedure
  • Vetting of participants for psychiatric conditions
  • Random allocation to roles
  • Genuine mundane realism observed
• What are the limitations of Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment?

  • Atrocious ethics
  • Informed consent issues
  • Difficulty in exercising the right to withdraw
  • Lack of protection from harm
  • Potential demand characteristics affecting validity
• What ethical issue arose regarding informed consent in the experiment?

  Informed consent did not cover all aspects of the procedure, such as nighttime arrests
• How did the right to withdraw affect participants in the study?

  The right to withdraw was difficult to exercise due to the prison routines set up by Zimbardo
• What was the impact of Zimbardo's encouragement on the guards?

  Zimbardo actively encouraged the guards to be cruel and oppressive
• What psychological effects might the prisoners have experienced after the study?

  Prisoners may have suffered PTSD as a result of their experience
• What is a potential issue with the participants' behavior during the experiment?

  Some participants may have acted according to demand characteristics
• How does acting according to demand characteristics affect the validity of the findings?

  If participants were playing expected roles, it lowers the validity of the findings
• What happened to the prisoner who had a mental breakdown?

  He snapped out of it when Zimbardo reminded him that the prison wasn't real