Key research - Haney, Zimbardo et al (1973) - Flashcards in A Level and IB Psychology

Zimbardo et al - Outline the aims of this study

To find out whether it is the individual or the situation that makes prison brutal.

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Zimbardo et al - What did the researchers predict?

The allocation to the role of guards or prisoner would dictate the ppt's behaviour, not their personal dispositions or personalities.

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Zimbardo et al - What was the research method used in this study?

Lab experiment, designed to be as naturalistic as possible (was supposed to last 14 days)

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Zimbardo et al - Where was the mock prison?

In the basement of the Stanford University Psychology building

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Zimbardo et al - How did they obtain the sample?

Through newspaper advertisement, asking for male volunteers to take part in a study of prison life, for $15 a day.

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Zimbardo et al - Outline the sample used in this study

24 young educated males, Strangers to each other (ethical reasons and practical). No abnormal or aggressive traits found prior to study. Randomly allocated to guard or prisoner

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Zimbardo et al - What did they tell the guards?

Their task was to maintain the reasonable degree of order within the prison necessary for its effective functioning. Not many instructions but prohibition against physical punishment was emphasised

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Zimbardo et al - How did they address the prisoners?

By their number not name.

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Zimbardo et al - Outline how the prisoners were brought to the prison

They were arrested at home, read their rights, taken to detention cell (real), then blind folded and taken to mock prison where they had stand naked in 'yard' whilst being deloused (deodorant), then given uniform and mug shot, went to cell.

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Zimbardo et al - When was the experiment stopped and why?

After 6 days, because guard lost their normal sense of identity and behaved appallingly towards prisoners, humiliating them both emotionally and physically.

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Zimbardo et al - What happened on day 2?

After revolt, prisoners became 'model prisoners'. However, they were severely depressed an anxious. Zimbardo suggested they suffered from deinviduation and learned helplessness

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Zimbardo et al - How did they prisoners and guards react when the study was stopped?

Prisoners were relieved and happy, Guards were distressed that it had stopped. They often stayed longer than their shift and were always happy to come to 'work'.

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Zimbardo et al - How did they explain the guards behaviour?

Guards became brutal and abusive towards the prisoners because peer pressure led to the guards' brutality and that people are more likely to be aggressive when they dehumanise others in an institution without 'external restraint'

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Zimbardo et al - What did they conclude

People will readily conform to the social roles they are expected to play, especially if the roles are as strongly stereotyped as those of the prison guards.

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Zimbardo et al - Evaluate this piece of research

Strengths: Has real-life relevance, Useful, Replicable. Weakness: Unethical, sample not representative, cannot be generalised to the population of offenders in prison.

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Key research - Haney, Zimbardo et al (1973)

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