Discuss Conformity to social roles (Zimbardo)

Question 1

What does conformity to social roles mean?

Answer 1

the adoption of behavior expected from someone in a particular position within society.

Question 2

Who conducted research into conformity to social roles?

Answer 2

Zimbardi

Question 3

What was zimbardos procedure?

Answer 3

• 24 male university students.
• Randomly assigned to roles of guards or prisoners.
• Prison was simulated in the Stanford University basement.
• Uniforms, numbers for prisoners, reflective sunglasses for guards.
• Planned to last 14 days.

Question 4

What was zimbardos findings?

Answer 4

• Participants quickly adopted their roles.
• Guards became abusive and authoritarian.
• Prisoners became anxious and passive.
• The experiment ended after 6 days due to extreme stress.

Question 5

Does the study have internal validity?

Answer 5

Yes
- Random assignment to roles controlled for individual differences.
- Strong evidence that behavior was due to the situation, not personality.

Question 6

What’s the limitation that explains the lack of realism/ ecological validity?

Answer 6

• Banuazizi & Mohavedi (1975): participants may have been acting based on stereotypes (e.g., guards copying movie villains).
• Reduces validity of the findings.

Question 7

What ethical issues are involved?

Answer 7

• Psychological harm, lack of informed consent about the intensity.

-Zimbardo’s dual role as superintendent created conflict of interest.

Question 8

What real world evidence is there?

Answer 8

The findings mirror real-world prison situations, showing the importance of situational pressures in behavior.