Zimbardo’s Research

Question 1

What did Zimbardo study?

Answer 1

Identification

Question 2

What do Zimbardo do?

Answer 2

Lab experiment where he converted a basement of Stanford Univerith into a mock prison. Advertised for students to play guards and prisoners, 24 male college students chosen from 75 volunteers

Question 3

What was Zimbardo’s procedure?

Answer 3

Participants randomly assigned to roles, prisoners arrested in own home without warning. No physical violence was permitted, the prisoners were treated like every other criminal

Question 4

What were Zimbardo’s findings?

Answer 4

Adopted their roles quickly, guards began to harass prisoners, they behaved in brutal ways and enjoyed it. Prisoners were tormented and generally dehumanised

Question 5

How did they adapt to their roles?

Answer 5

Prisoners started taking the prison rules very seriously, one had to be released after 36 hours because of uncontrollable screaming and crying. On the 6th day it was closed down due to danger of being mentally or physically damaged

Question 6

What were Zimbardo’s conclusion?

Answer 6

People with readily conform to social roles, especially if they are strongly stereotyped. They come to identify with the role and lose sense of personal identity

Question 7

What are 3 evaluation points?

Answer 7

• Beta bias: all male participants
• Lacks ecological validity and demand characteristics
• Ethical issues: no automatic right to withdraw