Zimbardo (1971): Stanford Prison Experiment

Cards (10)

  • What was the aim of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    To investigate conformity to social roles
  • What was the sample for the Stanford Prison experiment?
    24 males, all:
    • Volunteers
    • Students
    • American
  • What was the method for the Stanford Prison experiment?
    Controlled observation
    • Direct + through hidden cameras
    Lab experiment
    • Interviews conducted after study -> quantitative + qualitative data collected
    Set up as a roleplay
  • What was the procedure of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    IV = roles of ppts, DV = behaviours exhibited by individuals + groups in response to assigned roles
    • Ppts psychologically tested prior study + told their rights would be suspended
    • Mock prison in Stanford Uni. basement
    • Prisoners: unexpectedly 'arrested' by real police, underwent prison induction process + given smock/ID no., allowed certain rights
    • Guards: given khaki uniforms/clubs/reflective glasses, told they had authority over prisoners = had to maintain 'law + order'
    • Physical violence from guards banned
    • Zimbardo = 'prison warden'
  • What were the specific rights that the 'prisoners' were assigned?
    • 3 meals a day
    • 3 supervised toilet trips a day
    • 2 visits per week
  • How long was the study supposed to run for? When did it actually end?
    Planned to run for 2 weeks -> ended after 6 days
  • What were the findings of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    • Took 2 hours for guards to start harassing prisoners
    • Prisoners rebelled -> guards punished them harshly = rebellion ended
    • Post-rebellion -> guards hostile towards prisoners = forced them to do humiliating chores to 'keep people in line'
    • Took 6 days for the guards to become so abusive the study had to end
    • Post-rebellion -> prisoners became passive towards guards' abuse; saw themselves as prisoners + acted as such
    • 5 prisoners released early due to extreme stress
  • What were the conclusions of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    • Conformity to social roles via identification is brought about by situational factors
    • Changes to environment in prisons could decrease aggression levels
  • What are the strengths of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    • Strong internal validity -> controlled observation + lab experiment
    • Differences between original study + BBC study = differing results -> not problems with original study
    • Real-life application = accurate theory
  • What are the weaknesses of the Stanford Prison experiment?
    • Cost-benefit analysis = study not worthwhile
    • Ethical issues = not replicable (BBC study)
    • Artificial environment = low mundane realism + external validity