The Stanford prison experiment

What is the Zimbardo prison experiment?

A psychological study that investigated the effects of perceived power by assigning college students to roles of prisoners and guards.

When was the Zimbardo prison experiment conducted?

The experiment took place in August 1971.

Who conducted the Zimbardo prison experiment?

The experiment was conducted by psychologist Philip Zimbardo.

What was the main goal of the Zimbardo prison experiment?

To assess how quickly individuals would conform to their assigned roles in a simulated prison environment.

How many participants were involved in the Zimbardo prison experiment?

There were 24 male college students selected for the study.

How were participants assigned to their roles?

Participants were randomly assigned to either the role of prisoner or guard.

What were the expected and actual time frames of the Zimbardo prison experiment?

The experiment was planned for two weeks but was terminated after only six days.

What psychological phenomenon was prominently observed in the Zimbardo prison experiment?

Participants quickly internalized their roles, leading to abusive behavior by guards and extreme stress in prisoners.

What ethical concerns arose from the Zimbardo prison experiment?

Concerns included the psychological harm to participants and issues related to informed consent.

How did the guards behave during the experiment?

Many guards exhibited authoritarian and abusive behaviors, exercising power over the prisoners.

What was the reaction of the prisoners to their treatment?

Many prisoners showed signs of emotional distress and some even experienced breakdowns.

What impact did the Zimbardo prison experiment have on psychological research?

It highlighted the importance of ethical considerations in research involving human subjects.

What concept did the Zimbardo prison experiment contribute to our understanding of?

The concept of situational vs. dispositional influence on behavior.

What is one lesson from the Zimbardo prison experiment?

Situational factors can dramatically influence an individual's behavior beyond their personal characteristics.

In what way did Zimbardo participate in the experiment?

Zimbardo acted as the prison superintendent, which mixed his role in the study with his research.

What was Abu Ghraib?

A prison in Iraq that became infamous for prisoner abuse by U.S. military personnel.

When did the Abu Ghraib scandal come to light?

The scandal became publicly known in April 2004.

What type of abuse occurred at Abu Ghraib?

Abuse included physical, psychological, and sexual mistreatment of detainees.

What was the impact of the Abu Ghraib scandal?

It led to international outrage and raised concerns about U.S. military conduct.

How many soldiers were charged in connection with the Abu Ghraib scandal?

Several soldiers were charged, with a few receiving prison sentences for their actions.