Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo's research

• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)

  Procedure- set up mock prison at Stanford uni. Advertised for students willing to volunteer and selected those deemed 'emotionally stable' after extensive psychological testing. They were randomly assigned as guards or prisoners. 'Prisoners' arrested in their homes, and blindfolded, strip-searched, deloused and issued a uniform and number they would be referred to as. Their routine was heavily regulated. The guards wore a uniform and mirror shades, had a wooden club and had complete power over the prisoners.
• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)

  Findings- Guards' behaviour became a threat to prisoners' psychological and physical health, and the study was stopped after 6 days instead of the intended 14. Prisoners rebelled within two days. Guards employed 'divide-and-rule' tactics by playing the prisoners off against each other. A prisoner was released on the first day because he showed symptoms of psychological disturbance. The guards identified more closely with their role- behaviour became brutal and aggressive, with some appearing to enjoy the power.
• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)

  Conclusions- The simulation revealed the power of the situation to influence people's behaviour. They all conformed to their roles.
• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)- evaluation

  Had some control over variables. Emotionally stable individuals were chosen and randomly assigned roles. Rules out individual personality differences as an explanation for findings. If guards and prisoners behaved very differently, but were in those roles by chance, their behaviour must have been due to the pressures of the situation. Increases internal validity.
• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)- evaluation 2

  Lack of realism. Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) argued ppts were play-acting rather than conforming to a role. Performance based on stereotypes of how prisoners and guards are supposed to behave. E.g., one guard claimed he based role on character from the film Cold Hand Luke. However, quantitative data gathered during the procedure showed that 90% of the prisoners' conversations were about prison life. Therefore, on balance, situation was real to to ppts, increasing internal validity.
• Conformity to social roles: Zimbardo (SPE)- evaluation 3

  Conclusion may be over-stated. Fromm (1973) accused Zimbardo of exaggerating the power of situation to influence behaviour and minimising the role of personality factors (dispositional influences). Only about 1/3 guards were brutal, another 1/3 were fair, and the rest actively tried to help and support prisoners. The difference indicates they were able to exercise right and wrong choices, despite the situational pressures to conform to a role.