zimbardo's prison experiment

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

to examine whether people would conform to the social roles of a prison guard or prisoner when placed in a mock prison environment

Question 2

method

Answer 2

• 24 male students volunteered
• randomly assigned to either prisoner or guard
• prisoner’s were referred to as numbers and guards were given full control over prisoners
• experiment was set to run for 2 weeks

Question 3

findings

Answer 3

• both prisoners and guards quickly identified with their social roles
• guards became sadistic and harrassed prisoners
• 5 prisoners had to be released early due to extreme reactions

Question 4

conclusion

Answer 4

• people quickly conform to social roles, even when roles go against their moral principles
• situational factors were largely responsible for the behaviour found

Question 5

• Critisised due to _________________ sample of 24 male students.
• Is an issue as females behave ___________ in prison.
• Studies have shown that female offenders do not conform to _______ roles in the same way as men.
• ______ extent to which findings can be ___________.

Answer 5

• (unrepresentative)
• (differently)
• (social)
  -(limits) (generalised)