AO1 Conformity to social roles as investigated by Zimbardo

Zimbardo’s aim

Wanted to investigate how readily people conform to the expectations they have of social roles. And find out whether the brutality among guards in American prisons was due to sadistic personalities or the environment.

Zimbardo’s participants

21 well-adjusted healthy male volunteers, who were paid $15 a day to take part in a 2 week simulation study of prison life.

Zimbardo’s method (Before experiment)

Participants were randomly allocated as prisoners or guards. Local police arrested nine prisoners from their homes without warning, and were taken blindfolded to the prison in Stanford University.

Zimbardo’s method (During experiment)

The prisoners where stripped, sprayed with disinfectant, given smocks to wear and their prison number which they were referred to as. The Guards wore khaki uniforms, dark glasses and carried wooden batons. No physical aggression was permitted. Zimbardo played the role of the Chief superintendent.

Zimbardo’s findings

The guards conformed to their perceived roles so well that the study had to be discontinued after 6 days. Prisoners rebelled against the guards after only 2 days. Some prisoners became depressed and anxious, causing 1 prisoner to be released after 1 day, and 2 had to be released on day 4.

Zimbardo concluded

The prison environment was an important factor in creating the guards’ brutal behaviour as they showed no signs before the experiment. He believed that people will readily conform to the social roles they are expected to play and that such roles shape a person’s attitudes and behaviour.