Haney (Zimbardo)

• What was the aim (Haney)?

  to look at the processes which motivate aggressive and submissive behaviour in a "total institution" (eg a prison)
• What was the sample(Haney)?

  24 male college students

  Recruited via an advert- no deceit- volunteer sample

  22 actually took part
• What was the procedure(Haney)?

  Pnts were randomly allocated to the role of the "guard" or the "prisoner"

  A mock prison was created in the basement of the psych building at Stanford University

  "Prisoners" remained in the prison for 24 hours every day

  "Guards" worked 3-man 8 hour shifts

  The assigned task was to "maintain the reasonable degree of order within the prison necessary for its effective functioning"
• What were the results(Haney)?

  It was planned to last 2 weeks but was stopped after 6 days due to negative behaviour

  • Deindividuation: ppnts felt a loss of sense/self-identity due to the roles
  • Pathological prisoner syndrome: initial rebellion, followed by passivity and obedience- had a range of negative emotions (eg. crying, depression, rage or acute anxiety)
  • Pathology of power: The guards used their power and authority to control the prisoners. The guards reinvented the prisoner's rights as rewards to be earned. The guards were distressed the experiment stopped early
• What was the conclusion(Haney)?

  A situational explanation of behaviour- prisoners and guards behaviour changed due to the roles they had been assigned