AO3

• Zimbardo: Evaluation Points

  • Reicher & Haslam's contradictory experiment
  • Individual differences
  • Ethical violations
• Zimbardo: Reicher & Haslam


  Reicher and Haslam replicated Zimbardo's experiment with a random allocation of prisoners and guards. Prisoners in their experiment also rioted, however the guards did not retaliate and conform to their roles which led to the collapse of the prison system. This counters Zimbardo's conclusion of people conforming to roles given to them, as they clearly did not. Questions validity.
• Zimbardo AO3: Individual Differences

  Zimbardo concluded that the situational hypothesis explains the behaviour in prisons. However, individual differences and personality shows different conformity rate. The behaviour of the guards varied between each person, suggesting dispositional factors may also be prominent in explaining the behaviour. This questions Zimbardo's conclusion and decreases the validity.
• Zimbardo AO3: Ethical Violation


  Protection from harm was violated as 4 prisoners left early due to the emotional and mental harm. Guards also felt anxiety and guilt.