Ethical Evaluation of the Stanford Prison Experiment (APA Ethics)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the Stanford Prison Experiment and APA ethics.

Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE)

A 1971 psychology study by Philip Zimbardo that simulated prison life and highlighted major ethical violations under the APA Code.

Philip Zimbardo

Lead researcher and prison superintendent in SPE; his dual role blurred boundaries and contributed to escalation of abusive behavior.

Dual role / Researcher Involvement

Holding both investigator and supervisory roles in an experiment, which can bias judgment and compromise participant welfare.

Protection from Harm (APA Code)

Ethical principle requiring researchers to minimize psychological and physical harm and to intervene to protect participants.

Psychological Harm

Emotional distress, anxiety, and potential long-term mental health effects experienced by SPE participants.

Physical Harm

Physical punishment or coercive actions used against participants, contributing to harm in SPE.

Beneficence (APA)

Ethical obligation to maximize benefits while minimizing harm to participants.

Informed Consent

Voluntary agreement to participate based on understanding of procedures, risks, and purposes; in SPE, information was incomplete and deception masked procedures like mock arrests.

Mock Arrests

Staged arrests of participants as part of SPE; not disclosed beforehand, undermining informed consent.

Participant Withdrawal

The right to leave a study at any time without penalty; in SPE, withdrawal was discouraged or inhibited.

Right to Withdraw (APA)

Core APA principle ensuring participants can withdraw without penalty; breached in SPE through withdrawal inhibition.

Deception in Research

Use of misrepresentation or nondisclosure about procedures or purposes; SPE relied on deception (advertisement and mock arrests).

Ethical Violations in SPE

Lack of informed consent, withdrawal barriers, failure to protect from harm, deception, and researcher role conflict.

Autonomy and Trust in Authority

Long-term impact on participants’ sense of self and trust in authority due to harms and abuses in SPE.