conformity to social roles

• who research conformity to social roles

  Zimbardo (1973)
• what are social roles

  the 'parts' people play as members of various social groups e.g. parent, child,student

  these are accompanied by expectations we and others have of appropriate behaviours for each role
• study of Zimbardo (1973)

  Stanford prison experiment
• procedure of Zimbardo

  set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department of Stanford university

  selected 21 men (student volunteers)

  10 guards and 11 prisoners randomly assigned

  planned to run for 2 weeks

  prisoners 'arrested' and taken to the 'prison'
• how were the volunteers encouraged to conform

  uniforms

  instructions about behaviour
• how did the uniforms encourage conformity

  prisoners= given a loose smock, a cap to cover hair and identified by a number

  guards= own uniform that reflected their role, a wooden club, handcuffs and mirror shades
• what was the impact of the uniforms

  created a loss of personal identity (de-individuation)

  meant pps were more likely to conform to the perceived social role
• how did the instructions of behaviour encourage conformity

  the prisoners were further encouraged to identify with their role by several procedures

  e.g. if the prisoners wanted to leave they would 'apply for parole'
• how were the guards encouraged to play to their role

  they were reminded that they had complete power over the prisoners
• findings of the guards behaviour in zimbardo's research

  the guards took their roles with enthusiasm , treating the prisoners harshly

  used the 'divide-and-rule' tactics

  harassed the prisoners constantly and reminded them they're powerless

  maintained social roles by enforcing the rules and punishments

  some guards appeared to enjoy the power they had

  became increasingly brutal and aggressive
• findings of the prisoners in Zimbardo's research

  within 2 days= prisoners rebelled

  ripped uniforms and shouted at the guards

  after their rebellion was put down the prisoners became subdued, depressed and anxious

  one prisoner went on hunger strike

  3 prisoners released due to physiological disturbance
• conclusions of Zimbardo's research

  Zimbardo had to end the study after 6 days

  social roles have a strong influence on individuals behaviour

  guards become brutal

  prisoners become submissive

  such roles were taken easily by all pps even if such behaviours associated with these roles go against a person’s moral beliefs 
• strengths of Zimbardo

  high internal validity (control over variables)

  controlled observation

  replicates social roles of prisoners and guards in real prisoners (applicable to real life)
• limitations of Zimbardo

  lack of realism (lacks reality of a true prison)- prisoners were acting rather than conforming

  exaggeration of power of social roles - only 1/3 of prisoners behaved brutally
• research support of Zimabrdo

  Orlando (1973)
• aim of Orlando

  investigate how conformity to social roles can influence people to behave in extreme ways
• procedure of Orlando

  set ups mock psychiatric ward in a hospital

  29 staff members volunteered to be 'patients'
• findings of Orlando

  after two ways, all pps started behaving like real patients

  pps conformed to the roles they had been assigned

  after 2 days= several pps became more anxious and depressed

  some felt they had lost their sense of self-identity