Social roles

Social roles

The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. Everyday examples include parent, child, student, passenger and so on. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role, e.g caring , obedient , industrious etc.

Whats the stanford prison experiment.

Aim : To investigate if prison guards behave brutually due to sadistic personalities or due to the social role given

21 Male student volunteers tested as emotionally stable are assigned to be guards or prisoners

Uniforms, THe prisoners were given loose smock to wear and cap to covr hair, indentified by number . GUards had own uniform reflecting status of role, wooden club handcuffs and mirror shades.

These uniforms creted loss of personal identity ( de individuation) and meant they more likely to conform to perceieved social role.

Findings from prison study

Rebellion : prisoners rebelled within 2 days, guards retaliated using fire extinguishers and divide and rule tactics to turn prisoners against each other

Guard brutality, guards harassed prisoners constantly, force fed prisoners on hunger strike, locked him in hole

Prisoner distress, they were anxious depressed, 3 released early due to psychological disturbance

Termination : study stopped after 6 days instead of planned 14

Conclusion from prison study

Situational factors strongly influence behaviour. Both guards and prisoners conformed rapidly to assigned social roles, with guards becoming brutal and prisoners becoming submissive.