Conformity to social roles

• Conformity to social roles


  Conformity to social roles means changing your behaviour to suit that of the role you are given in a situation or society. It can therefore be used to explain identification as a type of conformity.
• Conformity to social roles results from Deindividuation:


  when an individual loses their sense of individual identity, their moral constraints on their behaviour are

  loosened. This makes them more likely to conform to social roles expected of them, even if they go against their values.
• Conformity to social roles results from situational factors


  Variables in the environment can trigger or cause a change in behaviour e.g. providing a person with a

  uniform can influence them to conform to the social role that is expected of people who wear that uniform.
• What was the aim of Zimbardo's research into conformity to social roles?

  To investigate how readily people would conform to new roles assigned to them.
• What was the procedure of Zimbardo's study?

  • 24 healthy American male volunteers participated.
  • They underwent psychological evaluations.
  • Participants were randomly assigned as guards or prisoners.
  • Local police arrested prisoners at their homes.
  • A mock prison was set up in Stanford University's basement.
  • Prisoners were stripped, given smocks, and assigned numbers.
  • Zimbardo acted as the prison warden overseeing the guards.
• How many participants were involved in Zimbardo's study?

  24 participants.
• What role did Zimbardo play in the study?

  Zimbardo played the role of the prison warden.
• What were the guards instructed regarding their treatment of prisoners?

  They were informed they had complete power over the prisoners, but no physical aggression was permitted.
• What were the findings of Zimbardo's study regarding the prisoners' behavior?

  • Prisoners rebelled after 2 days.
  • Guards used fire extinguishers to stop the rebellion.
  • Some prisoners became depressed and anxious.
  • Mental breakdowns occurred among prisoners.
• How did the guards demonstrate their conformity to their roles?

  They harassed prisoners and attempted to force-feed those on hunger strike.
• How long was Zimbardo's study originally planned to last?

  2 weeks.
• Why was Zimbardo's study discontinued after 6 days?

  Due to the extreme behavior of the guards and the mental breakdowns of the prisoners.
• What conclusions were drawn from Zimbardo's study?

  • Deindividuation and the prison environment influenced guards' brutal behavior.
  • Participants readily conform to expected social roles.
• What was the main focus of Zimbardo's research?

  Zimbardo's research focused on conformity to social roles.
• How were participants assigned roles in Zimbardo's study?

  Participants were randomly allocated to the roles of prisoner or prison guard.
• Who played the role of the prison warden in Zimbardo's study?

  Zimbardo himself played the role of the prison warden.
• What happened to the prisoners after they were arrested in the study?

  Prisoners were stripped, given smocks, and assigned a prison number to memorize.
• What did the guards wear in Zimbardo's study?

  Guards were given uniforms that included reflective sunglasses.
• What was one significant finding from Zimbardo's study regarding the behavior of guards?

  Guards developed authority and conformed to their roles with dedication.
• What extreme action did some guards take during the study?

  Some guards locked prisoners in dark closets similar to solitary confinement.
• How long did Zimbardo's study last before it was discontinued?

  The study was discontinued after six days.
• What did Zimbardo conclude about the factors influencing conformity to social roles?

  Zimbardo concluded that deindividuation and situational factors led to conformity.
• What are the strengths of Zimbardo's research into conformity to social roles?

  • High level of control over participant variables
  • Random allocation to roles minimizes extraneous variables
  • Increases validity of conclusions about conformity
• What criticism has been directed at Zimbardo's emphasis on situational factors?

  Zimbardo has been accused of exaggerating situational factors while minimizing personality factors.
• What percentage of guards behaved brutally according to Zimbardo's findings?

  Only a third of the guards behaved in a brutal manner.
• What was one potential reason for the prisoners' initial rebellion?

  Prisoners may have acted out based on stereotypes of real prisoners.
• What ethical concern is raised regarding the treatment of prisoner participants?

  Some prisoners experienced mental breakdowns during the study.
• What issue arose from the way prisoners were arrested in the study?

  Prisoners did not consent to being arrested by local police at their homes.
• What argument is made regarding the realism of the public arrest of participants?

  Some argue that the public arrest was necessary for realism in the simulation.
• What are the positive applications of Zimbardo's research into conformity to social roles?

  • Led to prison reforms focusing on rehabilitation
  • Helped reduce recidivism rates (rate of reoffending)
  • Highlighted the importance of ethical treatment in research