Social roles conformity

• Why did Zimbardo conduct this study?


  He wanted to understand if prison guard brutality was due to sadistic personalities or if it was the social roles they were playing into.
• Who were the participants and how were their roles assigned?

  • 21 american male university volunteers
  • assigned roles by a flip of coin (random)
• What were the uniforms given to participants?

  1. guards: wooden clubs, mirror shades, and handcuffs
  2. prisoners: loose smock, hair caps, and identifiable numbers
• Why were they given these uniforms?

  • to de-individualise the participants and see how their role affects their behaviour
• What were the findings?

  • guards were very hedonistic, often doing head-counts even when prisoners were supposed to sleep and administered punishments
  • prisoners rebelled within 2 days (swearing, ripping uniforms)
  • guards retaliated with fire extinguishers
  • one prisoner was released due to psychological disturbances, one went on hunger strike, and further 2 were released
  • guards became more aggressive and brutal as the study pogressed
  • the study was ended after 6 days of the original 2 weeks
• conclusion of the study:

  • social roles have a strong influence on an individual’s behaviour
  • guards became brutal while prisoners became submissive
  • even the outside volunteers (i.e the chaplain) adhered to their roles as if in a prison and not a psychological study