Zimbardo

• Conformity to social roles


  A psychological phenomenon where individuals conform to the roles assigned to them in a given situation
• Stanford Prison Experiment


  • Conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo in 1971
  • Aimed to explore the extent to which individuals would conform to roles assigned in a simulated prison environment
  • Involved college students randomly assigned to the role of prisoner or guard
  • Simulated prison set up in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford University
• The results of the Stanford Prison Experiment were shocking
• Participants' behavior


  The students quickly adapted to their roles, with the guards displaying authoritarian and abusive behavior towards the prisoners
• The behavior led to psychological distress and emotional trauma among the participants
• Zimbardo prematurely ended the study after just six days instead of the intended two weeks
• Significance of the study

  • Highlighted the powerful influence of social roles and situations on human behavior
  • Demonstrated how people can readily conform to the expectations of a role, even when it involves acting in ways that go against their moral principles
  • Raised important ethical concerns about the treatment of participants in psychological studies and the potential harm that can arise from such experiments
  • Sparked discussions about the broader implications of social dynamics and the dangers of unchecked authority in both real-world settings and research environments
• The Stanford Prison Experiment remains a significant study in the field of psychology
• The study prompts reflections on the nature of conformity, obedience, and the roles individuals play in society
• The study serves as a cautionary tale about the power of social situations to shape human behavior and the importance of ethical considerations in research and everyday life