Zimbardo study

Aim

to see how individuals would conform to social roles

Procedure

• 21 male students (volunteer sample)

• diagnostic , “psychologically healthy”

• randomly assigned to social role.

• Guards: sticks, khaki outfit, sunglasses

• Prisoners: smock and large heavy chains.

Deindividuation

• using uniforms to create loss of identity

Findings

• 2 days in: prisoners rebelled/ripped uniform/swore at guards

• Guards: brutal and aggressive, humiliated and harassed prisoners.

• Prisoners: suffered extreme stress and depression. Hunger strikes and psychological abuse. 3 left early

• Day 6: ended due to extreme abuse and inhumane behaviour.

Conclusions

• social roles have a powerful impact on peoples behaviour

Strength

• Highly controlled: used diagnostics and also randomly assigned rules out individual personality

• Increases internal validity as behaviour is most likely due to social roles.

Limitations

• lack of realism: Banuazizi and mohavedi based on stereotypes and individuals perceptions of guards and tells us little about conformity.

• Unethical: caused harm and psychological abuse to ppt. Violates ethical guidelines. zimbardo being involved and became immersed