Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment Lesson

ZIMBARDO’S Stanford Prison Experiment Objectives: To be able to outline Zimbardo’s procedure and findings. To evaluate the methods used in Zimbardo’s study.  Zimbardo’s study This study aimed to test conformity to social roles: i.e. do people adapt their behaviour to fit their expectation...

ZIMBARDO’S Stanford Prison Experiment Objectives: To be able to outline Zimbardo’s procedure and findings. To evaluate the methods used in Zimbardo’s study.  Zimbardo’s study This study aimed to test conformity to social roles: i.e. do people adapt their behaviour to fit their expectations of the role they have been given. Social roles can be defined as “the parts people play as members of social groups. All social roles come with expectations of what is appropriate behaviour in each role. Zimbardo's study Activity…. In Pairs, identify three ‘social roles’ in our society and list the behaviours and characteristics you might expect them to have. The fine line between good and evil… Philip Zimbardo was a Psychology Professor at Stanford University in California.  The research project looked at the mentality of prisoners and correctional staff, as well as the psychological behaviour associated with prison life. A mock prison was built in the basement of Stanford University and a group of university students were randomly allocated the role of prisoner or guard. The guards were instructed to ‘maintain a reasonable degree of order within the prison necessary for effective functioning’.  Both guards and prisoners were screened before the study and deemed to be “normal, healthy male college students who were predominantly middle class and white.” The 22 participants did not know each other prior to the study. The prisoners remained in the mock prison for 24 hours a day, and the guards worked on an 8 hour shift – allowing them to return home at the end of their shift. Participants were all paid $15 a day to take part in the study, which was to last 14 days.  The Guards: Mirrored sunglasses Khaki shirt and Trousers Night stick Whistle The Prisoners: Stocking cap Smock with ID number sewn on front & back No underwear Rubber sandals Chain and lock around the ankle  How did it go? The study was ended after 6 days... 5 prisoners had to be released earlier because of extreme emotional reactions and depression. The guards behaviour towards the prisoners had become so sadistic and inhumane, it was clear they had become immersed into their prison guard roles. Prisoners’ minds ventured far from the reality of the situation as they were continuously woken during the night, deprived of basic human rights and forced to perform degrading exercises for the guards own amusement. Zimbardo himself became so immersed in his role as Prison Superintendent, he found his ability to be impartial was compromised. It was Christina Maslach (Zimbardo’s graduate student and now wife!) who, when shown prisoners being marched in chains to the Remember all participants beforehand were deemed to be; “normal, healthy male college students...” The study provides a situational explanation for behaviour – any person when put in the wrong situation is capable of behaviour they didn’t think was possible.  Some key terms for Zimbardo’s study… * Deindividuation - A loss of self-awareness in groups to the point where responsibility for ones actions is lessened. * Diffusion of responsibility - person is LESS likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when others are present. *De-humanisation - ological process whereby ‘opponents’ view each other as less human and thus not deserving of moral cons *Learned Helplessness - tal state whereby forced to bear an unpleasant or painful stimuli (e.g events or environments), a person es UNABLE or UNWILLING to avoid subsequent encounters with that stimuli, even if they are AVOIDABLE.  Some key terms for Zimbardo’s study… * Learned models of Social Power - wer is the ability to influence or control the behaviour of people. Social Power can be defined as the author hich is legitimate by social structure * Situational factors- Concern the environment, e.g. work, schools, etc. that can influence behaviour. *Dispositional factors - ersonal to the individual, characteristics, traits and temperament that can influence behaviour. *Temporal Validity- tes to the external validity of a study through the progress of time. ( would we find the same results of Zim e did it today?) *Ethnocentric - e tendency to use our own culture as a standard by which to judge and evaluate other cultures. PLENARY Quick whiteboard check on details of Zimbardo’s study.