AO1

• Who conducted the Stanford prison experiment?

  Phillip Zimbardo
• What was Zimbardo's interest in the Stanford prison experiment?

  Why prison guards behaved brutally
• What did Zimbardo suggest about the behavior of guards?

  It was due to conformity to social roles
• What was the aim of the Stanford prison experiment?

  To investigate conformity to social roles
• How did Zimbardo recruit participants for the experiment?

  By putting out an advert for volunteers
• How many respondents completed the questionnaire for the study?

  75 respondents
• What criteria were used to select participants for the study?

  Physical and mental stability, maturity, and antisocial behavior
• How many men were selected to participate in the study?

  24 men
• What were the participants described as?

  Normal, healthy male college students
• What roles were participants randomly assigned to?

  Prisoner or guard
• What items were given to the guards upon arrival?

  Uniforms, clubs, and mirror shades
• How were prisoners treated upon arrival at the prison?

  Stripped and assigned uniforms of caps and smocks
• What instructions were given to the prisoners?

  Encouraged to apply for parole
• What instructions were given to the guards?

  Reminded of their complete power over prisoners
• How did the guards behave towards the prisoners?

  They treated them harshly and with enthusiasm
• What happened within two days of the experiment?

  The prisoners rebelled against the guards
• What tactics did the guards use against the prisoners?

  Divide and rule tactics
• How did the prisoners react after their 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 did one prisoner do to protest?

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

  Attempted to force-feed him and punished him
• What was the "hole" used for in the experiment?

  A tiny dark closet for punishment
• How did the guards' behavior change over time?

  They became increasingly brutal and aggressive
• How long was the Stanford prison experiment intended to last?

  Fourteen days
• Why did Zimbardo end the study early?

  Due to the extreme behavior of participants
• What was a key conclusion from the Stanford prison experiment?

  Participants conformed to their roles significantly
• How did the guards feel about their behavior after the experiment?

  They were shocked and disgusted by it
• What does the study suggest about identification and behavior?

  Identification can powerfully determine behavior
• What did the Stanford prison experiment reveal about situational influence?

  The power of the situation influences behavior
• How did the replication by Haslam and Reicher differ from Zimbardo's study?

  Participants were aware they were being filmed
• What issue did Zimbardo identify in the BBC experiment?

  Participants may show demand characteristics
• What did Zimbardo note about the differences between the two studies?

  Most prisoners in Reicher and Haslam's study were tougher
• What does the study suggest about social roles in the 21st century?

  They are less clearly defined than in the 1970s
• What are the main findings of the Stanford prison experiment?

  • Participants conformed to their assigned roles
  • Guards became brutal and aggressive
  • Prisoners became submissive and anxious
  • The study was stopped early due to extreme behavior