Conformity - Zimbardo

Question 1

What experiment did Zimbardo do?

Answer 1

The “Stanford Prison” Experiment

Question 2

Who carried out the “Stanford Prison” Experiment?

Answer 2

Zimbardo

Question 3

What was the aim of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 3

He was researching if “good people turn bad”, do people conform to social roles (The part people play as members of various social groups)

Question 4

What was Zimbardo’s operationalised method?

Answer 4

• Randomly assigned “Prisoner” or “Guard” roles to participants
• Raided “prisoners” homes and “arrested” them suddenly
• Put them in a makeshift prison and assigned the “prisoners” numbers and uniforms, guards also wore uniforms
• Observed the behaviours of the participants

Question 5

What were the results of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 5

• Initially, the guards tried to assert their authority and the prisoners resisted by sticking together.
• The prisoners then became more passive
  and obedient, while the guards invested nastier punishments.
• The experiment was abandoned early because some prisoners became very distressed.

Question 6

What were the conclusions of Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 6

Zimbardo claimed that social roles influence our behaviour, as seemingly well-balanced men acted aggressive in the role of a guard.

Question 7

True or False: Zimbardo’s research fit within the ethical guidelines.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

What ethical problems did Zimbardo’s “Stanford Prison” Experiment have?

Answer 8

Observer bias, as Zimbardo was part of the experiment as the “warden”, Ignored participants right to withdraw, negative effects on mental health.

Question 9

What is a good Real World Application you can link Zimbardo’s research to?

Answer 9

Abu Ghraib (2003-2004): US Military Police committed a series of human rights violations (tortured, physically and sexually abused, humiliated, murdered) against Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad; Lynndie England, a main culprit who stated he did these cruel acts “for her husband’s love”.

Question 10

What is a positive evaluation of Zimbardo’s research?

Answer 10

Control: Seen in selection of participants: Emotionally stable participants chosen and randomly assigned roles, behaviour changed due to pressure of situation as they were randomly assigned; increased internal validity

Question 11

What is/are negative evaluation(s) of ZImbardo’s research?

Answer 11

• Lack of reaism: Based on stereotypes; one of the guards claimed he based his role in a character from “Cool-Hand Luke”
• DIspositional influence: Fromm (1933) accused Zimbardo of exaggerating the power of the situation and overstating that the participants all conformed to social roles

Question 12

What is another case study you can refer Zimbardo’s work to?

Answer 12

Norma Jean Orlando’s “Mock Psychiatric Ward” Experiment (1973): all staff volunteers, 29 “patients” and 22 staff, “patients” started acting like real patients, showing conformity to social roles. They later showed signs of depression and withdrawal and mental health issues