A01

• Who conducted the Stanford prison experiment?

  Philip Zimbardo and colleagues
• What was the main question Zimbardo wanted to answer in his study?

  Why do prison guards behave brutally?
• What was the setup of the Stanford prison experiment?

  • Mock prison in Stanford's basement
  • 21 emotionally stable male student volunteers
  • Random assignment to guard or prisoner roles
• How were the prisoners identified in the experiment?

  By number, not by name
• What type of uniforms did the prisoners wear?

  A loose smock and a cap
• What items did the guards have as part of their uniform?

  Wooden club, handcuffs, and mirror shades
• What psychological effect did the uniforms create?

  Loss of personal identity (de-individuation)
• What was one method used to encourage prisoners to stay in the study?

  They could apply for parole
• What behavior did the guards exhibit towards the prisoners?

  They treated them harshly and aggressively
• What happened when the prisoners rebelled?

  They ripped uniforms and shouted at guards
• What tactics did the guards use to control the prisoners?

  Divide-and-rule tactics
• How did the guards remind prisoners of their powerlessness?

  By conducting frequent headcounts
• What was the psychological state of the prisoners after the rebellion was suppressed?

  They became subdued, depressed, and anxious
• What happened to one prisoner due to psychological disturbance?

  He was released from the study
• What extreme action did one prisoner take during the study?

  He went on a hunger strike
• How did the guards respond to the hunger strike?

  They tried to force-feed him
• What did the guards do to punish the hunger striker?

  Put him in 'the hole'
• How did the guards' behavior change over time?

  It became increasingly brutal and aggressive
• How long did Zimbardo originally intend for the study to last?

  14 days
• Why did Zimbardo end the study early?

  Due to the extreme behavior of the guards
• What conclusions can be drawn about social roles from the Stanford prison experiment?

  • Social roles strongly influence behavior
  • Guards became brutal; prisoners became submissive
  • Roles were easily adopted by participants
  • Even non-participants behaved as if in a prison