conformity - zimbardos prison experiment

• What are social roles?

  A pattern of behavior expected of someone in a particular social position
• How might a student behave differently in the role of a friend compared to a student?

  A student might use informal language with friends but formal language with teachers
• What was the purpose of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  To explore the impact of social roles on behavior in a prison setting
• What hypothesis was dominant at the time of the Stanford Prison Experiment regarding prison behavior?

  The dispositional hypothesis
• What does the dispositional hypothesis suggest about prison problems?

  It suggests that problems are due to the characteristics of guards and prisoners
• What was the method of participant selection for the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Participants were recruited via a newspaper advert and selected for stability
• How many students were selected for the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  25 students
• What roles were participants randomly assigned to in the study?

  Prisoner or guard
• How were the prisoners treated upon arrival at the mock prison?

  They were arrested, stripped, and made to wear uniforms with identification numbers
• What was the purpose of the prisoners wearing uniforms and identification numbers?

  To promote anonymity and remove individual identity
• What was the consequence for prisoners wanting to go to the toilet?

  They needed to get permission from the guards
• What items were guards given to maintain order in the mock prison?

  Uniforms, clubs, whistles, and reflective sunglasses
• What is deindividuation in the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  It is when individuals lose their sense of self-identity and responsibility within a group
• Where was the mock prison set up for the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  In the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University
• How long was the Stanford Prison Experiment originally designed to last?

  Two weeks
• Why was the Stanford Prison Experiment terminated after six days?

  Due to the threat to the physical and psychological health of the prisoners
• How did the guards' behavior change during the experiment?

  They became aggressive and harassed the prisoners regularly
• What was the prisoners' response to the guards' aggression?

  They became passive and submissive
• What was one significant act of rebellion by a prisoner?

  A hunger strike
• What did the guards' aggression become normalized by?

  Their uniforms and the power associated with their roles
• What conclusion can be drawn from the Stanford Prison Experiment regarding social roles?

  Social roles significantly affect behavior and can lead to conformity
• What are some strengths of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Careful selection of participants and good internal validity
• What is a limitation regarding the population validity of the study?

  Participants were all American male college students
• What are demand characteristics in the context of the study?

  Participants may have changed their behavior to fit expectations
• How did Zimbardo's dual role affect the study?

  It raised questions about the validity of the study
• What is a methodological issue regarding ecological validity in the study?

  The mock prison conditions were different from real-life prisons
• What ethical issues were raised by the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Lack of informed consent and protection from harm
• What was the impact of the Stanford Prison Experiment on discussions about human behavior?

  It led to significant discussions about situational versus dispositional factors
• What can be concluded about conformity to social roles from the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Conformity to social roles can lead to extreme behavior changes
• What question does the video pose about social roles in everyday life?

  What are the roles in your life where you feel the pressure to conform?