the stanford prison study - zimbardo

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• who would conform to prison roles
• whether conforming was due to dispositional or situational factors

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• a mock prison at stanford university
• 24 male students, volunteers
• participants were psychologically and physically screened
• randomly allocated to a role
• planned to last 14 days
• participants were dehumanised and deindivualised

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• guards made prisoners clean toilet with bare hands which showed dehumanisation
• prisoners were referred to as numbers showing deindividualisation
• everyone conformed
• stopper after 6 days

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

Social roles influence uncharacteristic behaviour