L8: Social Roles, Power & Tyranny

What was the aim of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

To explain how ordinary good people can commit harmful acts when placed in socially approved roles, rules, and norms.

Who conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Philip Zimbardo and his research team.

How many participants were involved in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

24 undergraduate volunteers.

What roles were participants assigned in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

They were randomly assigned as either prisoners or guards.

What ethical debates were sparked by the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The study raised concerns about participant harm, informed consent, and the right to withdraw.

What methods were used to dehumanize prisoners in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Prisoners were referred to by numbers instead of names and subjected to strict control and punishment.

What was the outcome of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The study was stopped after 6 days due to escalating brutality from guards and severe distress among prisoners.

What is deindividuation in the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

A psychological state where individuals lose their sense of personal identity, leading to behavior consistent with group roles.

How did Zimbardo's behavior influence the experiment?

He acted more like a harsh prison warden than an objective researcher, influencing the guards' behavior.

What is the key message of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The situation has powerful effects on behavior, demonstrating how social roles can influence actions.

What did psychological testing reveal about guards and prisoners?

They were similar to each other and to average people, suggesting that abusive environments can lead to dangerous behavior.

What is the significance of anonymity in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Anonymity led to deindividuation, causing guards to act without normal restraints against anti-social behavior.

What role did the system play in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The system created and supported roles, anonymity, and dehumanization, enabling harmful behavior.

What criticisms were raised regarding the methodology of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Critics pointed to verification issues, lack of controlled measures, and the influence of the experimenter on participants' behavior.

What did Reicher & Haslam (2006) criticize about the Stanford Prison Experiment?

They noted that many interactions weren't recorded and that the cause of behavior was unclear due to experimenter influence.

How did Zimbardo's leadership affect the guards' behavior?

His briefing encouraged guards to create fear and loss of individuality in prisoners, fostering tyrannical behavior.

What is the relationship between social roles and personal responsibility in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Social roles can reduce personal responsibility, allowing individuals to separate their actions from their moral selves.

What did Banuazizi & Movahedi (1975) argue about the realism of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

They argued that participants knew they had committed no crime and could leave at any time, reducing the study's realism.

What is dehumanization in the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Treating prisoners as less than human, which made abuse easier to justify and led to destructive behavior.

What was the impact of the Stanford Prison Experiment on ethical standards in research?

It led to major reforms in ethical standards, including informed consent and measures to prevent participant harm.

What is the significance of the 'divide-and-rule' tactics used by guards?

These tactics were used to control prisoners and suppress resistance, contributing to the overall cruelty of the guards.

What does the term 'role-based behavior' refer to in the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Behavior that is consistent with the assigned social role, which can sometimes lead to harmful actions.

What does the 'group-level psychology of tyranny' suggest?

Tyranny arises from unequal social systems where one group wields arbitrary or oppressive power over another.

How was guard aggression in the SPE originally framed?

As a natural outcome of their role and uniform.

What is a key factor in understanding role adoption in group settings?

The balance between tyranny and resistance.

What does self-categorization contribute to in group behavior?

It underpins group behavior and acceptance of group norms and values.

What are the two main factors affecting collective action in subordinate groups?

Permeability of group boundaries and security of intergroup relations.

What influences the perceived legitimacy of inequality?

Perceived stability of the inequality and availability of cognitive alternatives.

What was the aim of the BBC Prison Study?

To gather systematic data on interactions between unequal-status groups and identify conditions for group identity and intergroup inequality.

What method was used for participant selection in the BBC Prison Study?

Participants were selected based on psychometric tests, ensuring diversity in age, SES, and ethnicity.

What roles were assigned to participants in the BBC Prison Study?

5 guards and 9+1 prisoners, matched on key characteristics.

How did guards in the BBC Prison Study create their own rules?

They were given minimal guidance and tasked with keeping the institution running smoothly.

What was the significance of the 10th prisoner added on day 5?

He was an experienced trade-union official, providing cognitive alternatives to the current system.

What shift occurred among prisoners after promotion in the study?

They developed a social identity and began to challenge the system collectively.

How did guards respond to the lack of shared identity?

They hesitated to assert authority and failed to agree on norms and priorities.

What was the outcome of the prisoners' collective action after promotion?

They organized effectively, supported each other, and gained confidence in achieving change.

What happened to the commune established by former guards and prisoners?

They drew up operational rules and worked effectively, but faced challenges from dissidence.

What led to the termination of the experiment on day 7?

Emerging crises and the introduction of plans for a new hierarchy by opponents of the commune.

What conclusion was drawn regarding role assumption in group contexts?

People do not automatically assume roles, contradicting findings from the SPE.

What key question arises from the findings of the BBC Prison Study?

Under what conditions do people create inequality themselves?

What does the social identity approach suggest about group boundaries?

Impermeable boundaries lead to social identification with the group.

What was a limitation noted in explaining guards' behavior?

The study could not fully explain why guards enjoyed positive status but feared negative evaluation by outsiders.

What is the relationship between effective group organization and acceptance of social order?

When groups fail to organize effectively, people are more likely to accept externally imposed social orders.