Social Influence - Conformity: Zimbardo's research

Question 1

Where did the experiments take place?

Answer 1

In the basement of Stanford universities psychology building

Question 2

How many participants were recruited to take part in the experiment?

Answer 2

24
12 prisoners and 12 guards

Question 3

How were the participants recruited?

Answer 3

Volunteer sampling

Question 4

What was the basis of the participants being selected?

Answer 4

That they were in good psychological condition

Question 5

How were the participants allocated to their roles?

Answer 5

Randomly allocated

Question 6

How did Zimbardo heighten the realism of the experiment?

Answer 6

The participants who were ‘prisoners’ were blind folded, strip searched, deloused and assigned a uniform and number.

Question 7

How many rules did the prisoners have to follow?

Answer 7

16

Question 8

“How were prisoners deindividuated to emphasize their role?”

Answer 8

-Uniform
- Given a number instead of name

Question 9

How were guards deindividuated to emphasize their role

Answer 9

• Uniform
• Sunglasses to hide their face

Question 10

How many days did the experiment last and how many days was it meant to last?

Answer 10

It was meant to last 2 weeks and it actually lasted 6 days

Question 11

How many days did it take for the prisoners to rebel?

Answer 11

2 days

Question 12

Give an example of how prisoners rebelled.

Answer 12

• Ripped their uniforms and swore and shouted at guards

Question 13

Give an example of how guards put down the prisoners rebellion

Answer 13

They used ‘divide-and-rule’ tactics, playing the prisoners off against each other, and completing headcounts, sometimes at night

Question 14

What can we conclude from SPE?

Answer 14

1)Social roles appeared to have a strong influence on individuals’ behaviour in this study
2)Power may corrupt those who wield it i.e. the guards over the prisoners
Institutions may brutalise people and result in deindividuation (for both guards and prisoners)

Question 15

Strength of SPE : Practical application

Answer 15

Point: The study led to changes in U.S. prison practices to protect vulnerable inmates and improve safety.

Evidence: Such as increased training and oversight in military and law enforcement settings to prevent abuses

Explain: The study highlighted risks for certain inmates, prompting measures like better staff training and monitoring.

Link: This shows the study’s real-world impact on prison policies and inmate safety.

Question 16

Strength 2 - High control

Answer 16

Point: Random assignment of prisoners and guards increased the study’s internal validity.

Evidence: Zimbardo used random assignment to ensure that any differences in behavior were due to the prison environment, not pre-existing traits.

Explain: This method controlled participant variables and helped ensure that the study measured the impact of the prison setting on behavior.

Link: This strengthened the internal validity, making the study’s findings more reliable.

Question 17

Weakness 1 - Ethical issues

Answer 17

Point: The study had major ethical issues, causing psychological harm and making it hard for participants to withdraw.

Evidence: One participant had a breakdown after 36 hours, and Zimbardo’s role as superintendent made it difficult to leave.

Explain: Participants experienced severe stress, and the dual role of Zimbardo blurred authority lines. These ethical problems led to stricter guidelines for future psychological research.

Link: Therefore is a issue as zimbardo failed to fulfil the guidelines by not protecting participants from harm and not giving them the right to withdraw

Question 17

Weakness 2 - Lack of realism

Answer 17

Point: Participants acted based on stereotypes, which undermined the study’s realism.

Evidence: A guard admitted to imitating a brutal character from a film, and critics said the study lacked real prison complexity.

Explain: Actions were more about role-playing than true responses, reducing the study’s validity.

Link: This questions the applicability of the findings to real prison conditions and dynamics.

Question 18

what are social roles?

Answer 18

the parts individuals act when they belong to a social group e.g. Doctor, lawyer, Grandma etc..

Question 19

What was the aim of the Zimbardo SPE?

Answer 19

To understand the psychological impact of situational forces

Question 20

Situational factors

What does the research suggest?

Zimbardo spe

Answer 20

That sutuational factors rather than dispositional (personality traits) can drive behaviour.

As all participants despite being deemed heathly and normal conformed to their assigned social role.