Conformity to social roles

• • When an individual adopts a particular belief or behaviour while in a social situation. Become an internal mental script in different settings helping us act appropriately. These may change depending on setting & company.
• Stanford Prison Experiment (Controlled Observation): Zimbardo -

  • Procedure: Zimbardo converted a basement at Stanford into a mock prison. Advertised participation in a study of prison life. 24 volunteers were selected from 75, most physically & psychologically healthy. Paid $15/day. Coin flip to randomly assign to prisoner/guard. Prisoners arrested from their home & stripped naked given a number & told to wear a smock. Dehumanise & de-individuation. Guards were all dressed in the same uniform, given a whistle, baton & sunglasses which made eye contact impossible.
• • Findings - both prisoners & guards adopted to their roles quickly especially guards - physically abused prisoners who had real mental breakdowns. The experiment was terminated after 6 days when Zimbardo's girlfriend questioned his morality.
  • Conclusion - people do conform even against their moral principles, situational factors were largely responsible for participants behaviour.
• AO3 -

  • Zimbardo was the researcher & the 'Prison Superintendent' He lost objectivity & failed his duty as a researcher, lack of protection from psychological & physical harm.
  • Prisoners weren't aware they'd be arrested from home, increases ecological validity replicated real-life. However, lack of informed consent, deception towards family + pps.
  • Pps showed psychological distress & extreme anxiety. 1 went on a hunger strike & force fed by guards.
  • Pps were debriefed & showed long-term support arguably consequences may be irreversible.
  • Beta bias, 24 males. Culture bias, individualist.
• Zimbardo's Research -

  • set up mock prison in the basement of Stanford University
  • observational study – controlled, participant, overt
  • emotionally stable volunteers were assigned to roles of either prisoner or guard
  • prisoners ‘arrested’, blindfolded, strip searched, etc
  • guards given uniform and told to maintain order
  • dehumanisation of prisoners, e.g. wearing numbered smocks
  • the study was planned to run for two weeks, but was stopped early after 6 days