Zimardo's Prison Study

• aim


  -study identification in social roles
• procedure 


  -25 physically & mentally fit Ps

  -agreed to take part in mock prison set up

  -assigned either prisoner or guard

  -police recruited to 'arrest' 9 'prisoners' from homes

  -referenced by number

  -3 'guards' on shift at once wearing uniforms
• findings


  -Ps conformed to roles

  -study had to be discontinued after 6 days

  -guards became 'creative in their evil'

  -made prisoners wash toilet with bare hands, caused sleep deprivation

  -prisoners exhibited passive behaviour, depression, crying & anxiety
• impact on prisoners


  -depression

  -anxiety

  -passive behaviour

  -sleep deprivation

  -rashes

  -crying
• conclusion


  -demonstrates how easily people can come to behave uncharacteristically when placed in new situation with new roles
• what happened to prisoners when they entered study?


  -arrested by police

  -taken blindfolded to 'prison'

  -stripped

  -sprayed with disinfectant

  -given smocks to wear

  -prison numbers to memorise