Zimbardo's research into conformity

• why did Zimbardo conduct the Stanford prison experiment?

  to know why prison guards behave so brutally due to the current many riots during the time
• what are the factors for explanations for cruel behaviours according to Zimbardo?

  1. Dispositional factors
  2. Situational factors
• what are situational factors?

  Zimbardo believed people conformed to the social roles they identify with in their current situation hence they'd behave how someone in their position is expected to
• Procedure of Zimbardo (SPE):

  • set up a mock prison in basement
  • 21 male student volunteers tested 'emotionally stable'
  • selected after completing questionnaires on mental health , family and criminal backgrounds
• Method of Zimbardo (SPE):

  • randomly assigned roles of prisons and guards
  • students were de-invidualized as they were given uniforms and numbers to be identified with (never names)
  • prisoners unexpectedly arrested at home
  • planned duration of 2 weeks ; stopped after 6 days
  • guards encouraged to identify with their roles through reminders of their power
• Findings of Zimbardo's study (guards):

  • increased brutality
  • head counts middle of night
  • severe punishments such as solitary confinement
  • fire extinguisher used
• what were the findings for the prisoners in Zimbardo's experiment?

  • increased submission
  • became subdued , anxious , depressed
  • stress related rash
  • hunger strike
• Strength of Zimbardo's research:

  P - good internal validity

  E - all pps selected were tested to be emotionally stable and roles for guards and prisoners were randomly selected

  E - any changes within behaviour observed can be explained by conformity to social roles rather than personality differences

  L- conclusions drawn about influence of social roles likely to be accurate
• what was a limitation of ZImbardo's research?

  P - prison simulation lacked realism of a true prison

  E - pps were aware they were taking part in an experiment = believed no real threat of violence

  E - any aggression simply was pps acting their roles based on stereotypes

  L - doesn't tell us about why real guards display aggressives behaviours do in real prisons
• Limitation of Zimbardo's study:

  P - Z may have exaggerated power of social roles to influence behaviour

  E - 1/3 behaved in a brutal manner , 1/3 tried to adhere to the rules fairly , rest actively tried to help prisoners (sympathised by offering cigs + reinstated priveleges)

  E - Z overstated how pps conformed to their roles and minimised influence of dispositional factors as some were able to resist situational pressures