conformity to social roles-zimbardo

• What was the main aim of Zimbardo's Prison Experiment?

  To investigate the causes of prison violence
• How did Zimbardo assign roles to participants in his experiment?

  He randomly assigned half to be prisoners and half to be guards
• What behavior did Zimbardo observe in the prison officers during the experiment?

  They became dominant and aggressive
• What was the initial reaction of the prisoners in Zimbardo's study?

  They attempted to resist and barricaded themselves in their cells
• How long was Zimbardo's Prison Experiment originally intended to last?

  7 to 14 days
• What happened to the prisoners as the experiment progressed?

  They became submissive and showed significant distress
• What was one of the rights that prisoners had during the experiment?

  Free meals three times a day
• What was Zimbardo's role in the experiment?

  He acted as the chief prison superintendent and lead investigator
• What did Zimbardo claim about the situational power of the prison environment?

  It can lead mentally healthy individuals to act aggressively
• What are the stereotypical behaviors expected of various social roles?

  • Doctor: empathetic and caring
  • Teacher: knowledgeable and communicative
  • Police officer: confident and authoritative
  • Politician: persuasive and charismatic
  • Student: curious and hardworking
  • Artist: unconventional and passionate
  • Prisoner: submissive or potentially dangerous
  • Correction officer: tough and domineering
• What is a commonly accepted definition of a social role?

  A socially defined pattern of behavior expected of individuals in a specific social position
• What type of conformity involves adopting group beliefs publicly to feel part of the group?

  Identification conformity
• What did Zimbardo's study demonstrate about aggression in prisons?

  It suggested that aggression is situational rather than dispositional
• What was the outcome of the Stanford Prison Experiment after six days?


  The study was ended early due to extreme responses from participants
• What are some positive evaluations of Zimbardo's methodology?

  • Participants were carefully selected for mental stability
  • Random assignment reduced participant variables
  • Findings have practical applications in understanding institutional abuse
• What real-life example was mentioned as a consequence of the findings from the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  The abuse of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison
• What was a significant criticism of Zimbardo's study regarding participant behavior?

  Participants acted according to demand characteristics
• What did the replication study by Reicher and Haslam find about social roles?

  Participants acted more in line with their personalities than conforming to social roles
• What ethical concern was raised about Zimbardo's dual role in the experiment?

  It likely led to experimental bias
• What harm did participants experience during the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Many prisoners suffered significant distress and mental breakdowns
• What ethical safeguards should be ensured in psychological studies?

  • Informed consent
  • Right to withdraw
  • Protection from harm
  • Debriefing after the study
• What was the payment offered to participants in Zimbardo's study?

  $15 a day
• What was one of the main criticisms regarding the emotional impact on participants in Zimbardo's study?

  Participants felt they had no right to withdraw from the study
• How did Zimbardo's findings influence military and law enforcement training?

  They are taught to reduce the likelihood of institutional abuse