Haney, Banks and Zimbardo (1973)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate prisoner-guard conflict in a simulated environment

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Total of 10 prisoners/11 guards
• Simulated prison environment with yard area, guardroom and room for solitary confinement
• prisoners were allowed privileges. For ex. watching a movie and approx. 3 visits from family

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

• Guards would become aggressive towards the prisoners
• Prisoners were punished with little or no justification
• Study was shut down after 6 days because behaviour was getting out of control
• Prisoners started to show signs of emotional mental distress

Question 4

Conclusions

Answer 4

• Both prisoners and guards deindividuated to assigned roles

Question 5

Strengths

Answer 5

• There was control in study, experiment was recorded and there were rules

Question 6

Weaknesses

Answer 6

• Study was unethical, lots of physical and psychological harm done to prisoners
• Participants knew that it is a study, may have shown demand characteristics