1.4 Conformity to Social Roles

• What are social roles defined as in psychology?

  Behavior patterns in social positions
• Social roles are important because they help maintain social order
• What was the primary goal of the Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Examine social role impact
• The Stanford Prison Experiment showed that participants fully conformed to their assigned roles as guards or prisoners.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment faced ethical concerns due to lack of adequate protection from harm.
• What is one factor influencing conformity to social roles?

  Role expectations
• Deindividuation increases conformity to social roles by reducing self-awareness.
• Match the type of social role with its characteristic:

  Ascribed roles ↔️ Born into

  Achieved roles ↔️ Earned or chosen
• In social influence, roles can lead to conformity as individuals adapt their behaviour to align with role expectations
• Why are social roles important for maintaining social order?

  Provide clear framework
• Match the benefit of social roles with its description:

  Maintaining social order ↔️ Clear framework for societal expectations

  Structuring interactions ↔️ Expected behaviors in different settings

  Influencing behavior ↔️ Conforming to meet social expectations
• What was the primary aim of the Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Examine impact of social roles
• The Stanford Prison Experiment was halted after six days due to extreme psychological distress among participants.
• What ethical concern was raised about the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Lack of protection from harm
• The Stanford Prison Experiment supports the equation B = f(SE)</latex>, which states that behavior (B) is a function of social environment
• What are the two main types of social roles?

  Ascribed and achieved roles
• Match the type of social role with its example:

  Ascribed roles ↔️ Gender

  Achieved roles ↔️ Occupation
• Social roles can lead to conformity as individuals adapt their behavior to align with role expectations.
• What does the equation $B =$$f(SE)$ signify in the context of social roles?


  Behaviour is influenced by social environment
• Social roles are defined by patterns of behaviour expected in specific social positions
• Ascribed roles are earned through personal effort and choice.

  False
• What is an example of an achieved role?

  Occupation
• Match the characteristic with the correct type of role:

  Little to no control ↔️ Ascribed roles

  Greater personal control ↔️ Achieved roles
• Social roles are not necessary for maintaining social order.

  False
• How do social roles contribute to maintaining social order?

  Provide a clear framework
• Roles define expected behaviours in different settings
• What is one key benefit of social roles in society?

  Structuring interactions
• The Zimbardo Stanford Prison Experiment assigned participants roles as guards or prisoners in a mock prison.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment was halted after six days due to ethical concerns
• What type of behavior did the guards exhibit in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Authoritarian
• Participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment were fully informed about potential psychological harm.

  False
• How do social roles influence behavior according to the equation B = f(SE)</latex>?

  Social environment shapes behaviour
• Match the group in the Stanford Prison Experiment with their key findings:

  Guards ↔️ Authoritarian behaviour

  Prisoners ↔️ Psychological distress
• The ethical concerns of the Stanford Prison Experiment led to debates about the responsibilities of researchers.
• What ethical principle was compromised in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Informed consent
• The Stanford Prison Experiment had low ecological validity
• Why is the reliability of the Stanford Prison Experiment low?

  Unique sample of participants
• What does validity in an experiment refer to?

  Accuracy of measurement
• The Stanford Prison Experiment had high ecological validity due to its realistic prison environment.

  False
• The Stanford Prison Experiment had high internal validity because it demonstrated a clear cause-and-effect relationship.