Conformity to social roles

• Zimbardo method and aim AO1

  aim:

  • examine behaviours in a mock prison environment and examine if behaviour is due to internal dispositional factors or external situational factors

  method:

  • 21 male uni students selected from 75 based on stability
  • prisoners were arrested, strip searched and given uniform
  • guards wore reflective glasses and had batons and a uniform
  • meant to run for 14 days
• Zimabrdo findings and conclusion AO1

  findings:

  • both quickly identified with roles
  • guards dehumanised prisoners - waking them, cleaning toilets
  • prisoners rebelled but was quickly stopped
  • 5 were released early
  • terminated after 6 days

  conclusion:

  • people quickly conform even when against morals
  • situational factors largely responsible
• Zimbardo AO3


  -contradictory findings - Reicher and Haslam - replicated zimbardo and participants didn't conform automatically

  -individual differences control extent to which a person conforms to social roles. Zimbardos guards behaviour varied from sadistic to offering support

  -breaking ethical guidelines - protection from harm, 5 left early, zimbardo acknowledged that it should of been stopped sooner

  -only male participation - beta bias

  + initial real world application to improve prison system