Stanford Prison Experiment

Definition

The Stanford Prison Experiment was a psychological study conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo, which investigated the effects of perceived power and authority on human behavior. The experiment assigned college students to play the roles of guards and prisoners in a simulated prison environment, revealing how quickly individuals could conform to their assigned roles and exhibit extreme behaviors. This study is crucial for understanding social influence and obedience, as it showcases how situational factors can drive individuals to act in ways that are inconsistent with their personal morals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The experiment was conducted at Stanford University and involved 24 male students who were randomly assigned to either the role of guard or prisoner.
2. The study was intended to last two weeks but was terminated after just six days due to the extreme and distressing behavior exhibited by participants.
3. Participants assigned to the role of guards became increasingly abusive and authoritarian, while those assigned as prisoners experienced psychological distress and emotional breakdowns.
4. Zimbardo himself played the role of the prison superintendent, which contributed to the ethical concerns raised about his lack of oversight and intervention.
5. The results highlighted the power of situational factors over personality traits, suggesting that ordinary people can engage in harmful behaviors when placed in certain environments.

Review Questions

• How did the Stanford Prison Experiment illustrate the concept of social roles in influencing individual behavior?
  • The Stanford Prison Experiment vividly demonstrated how social roles can dictate behavior by showing that participants quickly adopted their assigned roles as guards or prisoners. Those assigned as guards exhibited authoritarian behavior and aggression, while prisoners displayed submissiveness and emotional distress. This shift occurred even without prior training or explicit instructions, highlighting how strong situational forces can override personal morals and values.
• Evaluate the ethical implications of the Stanford Prison Experiment regarding participant welfare and informed consent.
  • The ethical implications of the Stanford Prison Experiment are significant, particularly concerning participant welfare and informed consent. Participants were subjected to severe psychological stress and humiliation without adequate safeguards or debriefing. Zimbardo's dual role as researcher and prison superintendent blurred lines between oversight and experimentation, leading to criticisms that participants did not fully understand the risks involved. These concerns have prompted stricter ethical guidelines in psychological research today.
• Analyze how the findings from the Stanford Prison Experiment contribute to our understanding of conformity and obedience within social psychology.
  • The findings from the Stanford Prison Experiment provide critical insights into conformity and obedience by demonstrating that individuals may engage in harmful behaviors when influenced by authority figures or group dynamics. The rapid transformation of normal college students into abusive guards underscores how situational pressures can lead to actions that contradict personal ethics. This experiment contributes to our broader understanding of how social environments can shape behavior, emphasizing that ordinary individuals are capable of extreme actions under certain conditions.

Related terms

Social Roles: Social roles are the expectations and behaviors associated with a specific position or status within a social group, influencing how individuals behave in different contexts.

Deindividuation: Deindividuation is a psychological state characterized by a loss of self-awareness and individual accountability, often occurring in group settings where individuals feel anonymous.

Authority: Authority refers to the legitimate power or right to make decisions, command obedience, and enforce rules within a given context, impacting how people behave and conform.