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Social influence
Conformity
Zimbardo (1971): Stanford Prison Experiment
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Created by
eloise allen
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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