conformity to social roles

Question 1

What was the aim of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment?

Answer 1

To investigate conformity to social roles.

Question 2

How many participants were involved in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 2

24 male student volunteers.

Question 3

How were participants selected for the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Answer 3

Based on mental and physical health.

Question 4

How were participants assigned roles in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 4

Randomly assigned as prisoners or guards.

Question 5

Where was the mock prison set up?

Answer 5

Stanford University.

Question 6

How were prisoners treated at the start of the experiment?

Answer 6

Arrested at home and referred to by numbers.

Question 7

What uniform did the guards wear?

Answer 7

Uniforms with reflective sunglasses to symbolize authority.

Question 8

What role did Zimbardo take in the experiment?

Answer 8

He acted as the prison superintendent.

Question 9

How long was the experiment supposed to last?

Answer 9

14 days.

Question 10

How long did the Stanford Prison Experiment actually last?

Answer 10

6 days.

Question 11

Why was Zimbardo’s study terminated early?

Answer 11

Due to severe psychological effects on participants.

Question 12

What behavior did the guards display?

Answer 12

Abusive and sadistic behavior.

Question 13

What types of tasks did guards force prisoners to perform?

Answer 13

Degrading tasks like cleaning toilets.

Question 14

How many prisoners had to be released early?

Answer 14

Five prisoners.

Question 15

How did the prisoners’ behavior change during the study?

Answer 15

They became passive

Question 16

What explanation did Zimbardo give for the guards’ behavior?

Answer 16

He argued conformity to roles was automatic.

Question 17

What study challenged Zimbardo’s findings?

Answer 17

The BBC Prison Study (Reicher and Haslam

Question 18

What happened in the BBC Prison Study?

Answer 18

Prisoners took control and harassed the guards.

Question 19

What theory did Reicher and Haslam use to explain their findings?

Answer 19

Social Identity Theory (SIT).

Question 20

What does SIT suggest about group behavior?

Answer 20

People conform when they develop a shared group identity.

Question 21

How did the BBC Prison Study contradict Zimbardo’s conclusions?

Answer 21

It showed that situational factors alone may not lead to conformity.

Question 22

What real-world example supports Zimbardo’s findings?

Answer 22

The Abu Ghraib prison abuse in Iraq (2003).

Question 23

How did Zimbardo explain the behavior of soldiers at Abu Ghraib?

Answer 23

He argued they were victims of situational factors.

Question 24

What metaphor did Zimbardo use to describe the abusive guards?

Answer 24

“Bad barrel” rather than “bad apples.”

Question 25

How did Zimbardo’s research influence prison reforms?

Answer 25

It shaped USA prison reforms in the 1970s.

Question 26

What criticism did Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) have of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 26

They argued participants were merely acting.

Question 27

What evidence supported Banuazizi and Mohavedi's claim?

Answer 27

One guard admitted copying behavior from *Cool Hand Luke*.

Question 28

How did Zimbardo counter the claim that participants were acting?

Answer 28

He noted that 90% of prisoner conversations were about prison life.

Question 29

What did Prisoner 416 believe about the prison?

Answer 29

He believed it was a real prison run by psychologists.

Question 30

What limitation does this raise about Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 30

It may lack internal validity due to demand characteristics.

Question 31

What dispositional factor did Fromm (1973) highlight in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 31

Personality differences among participants.

Question 32

How did the guards’ behavior vary in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 32

1/3 were brutal

Question 33

Why does the guards’ behavior challenge Zimbardo’s conclusions?

Answer 33

It suggests personality factors influenced behavior as well.

Question 34

What ethical issues were raised in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 34

Participants experienced psychological harm.

Question 35

What was one example of unethical treatment in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 35

Prisoners were forced to clean toilets with their bare hands.

Question 36

What mistake did Zimbardo make as the prison superintendent?

Answer 36

He refused a prisoner’s request to leave “on parole.”

Question 37

How did Zimbardo attempt to address the ethical issues?

Answer 37

He fully debriefed participants for several years.

Question 38

What positive impact did Zimbardo’s study have on Psychology?

Answer 38

It contributed to the development of ethical guidelines.

Question 39

What other influential study also led to new ethical guidelines?

Answer 39

Milgram’s obedience study.

Question 40

What key takeaway did Zimbardo’s study demonstrate?

Answer 40

Situational factors can strongly influence behavior.