ZImbardo's Study

• Zimbardo (1973) - Procedure

  • Stanford University Fake Prison
  • 21 Male Students randomly assigned roles
  • Prisoners were arrested, stripped and deloused
  • Guards were given clubs and sunglasses, and worked on rotated shifts
• Zimbardo (1973) - Findings

  • Roles were conformed to quickly
  • Within 2 days there were rebellions and hunger strikes
  • Stopped the study after 6 days due to Mental Health
• (+) A03: Lab Study

  Well controlled, with a standardised procedure
• (-) A03: Zimbardo's Dual Role

  Dual Role led to loss of scientific objectivity and concern for ethical treatment
• (-) A03: Reicher + Haslam (2011)


  BBC recreation found inconsistent results, prisoners disobeyed orders, no guard control over behaviour