Stanford Prison Experiment

McLeod, S. A. (2008). Zimbardo - Stanford Prison Experiment. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/zimbardo.html

"Stanford Prison Experiment." The : A Simulation Study of the Psychology of Imprisonment. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.

"AS Psychology Holah.co.uk Zimbardo." AS Psychology Holah.co.uk Zimbardo. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.

"What is Mob Mentality." wisegeek.com. Conjecture Corporation. Web. 15 Apr 2013. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-mob-mentality.htm>.

Milgram’s Shock Experiment

Conclusion

• Included teacher, student, and authority figure• Teacher instructed to shock student for each wronganswer• Tested people’s obedience to authority

*People will readily conform to the social roles they are expected to play, especially if the roles are as strongly stereotyped.

*This study has received many ethical criticisms, including lack of fully informed consent of participants and the level of humiliation and distress experienced by those who acted as prisoners.

*Zimbardo himself did not know what would happen in the experiment (it was unpredictable).

*Participants playing the role of prisoners were not protected from psychological and physical harm. (e.g. the one prisoner who had to be released after 36 hours because of uncontrollable bursts of screaming, crying and anger.)

Psychology

Findings

The First to Leave

One prisoner had to be released after 36 hours because of uncontrollable bursts of screaming, crying and anger. His thinking became disorganized and he appeared to be entering the early stages of a deep depression. Within the next few days three others also had to leave after showing signs of emotional disorder that could have had lasting consequences.

* What makes ordinary people become uncharacteristically violent or sadistic?

* It's situational!

* Herd Behavior

* Herd Mentality

*Mob Mentality

*Within hours of beginning the experiment some guards began to harass prisoners.

*Guards acted in a brutal and sadistic manner, appearing to enjoy it.

*The prisoners were constantly insulted and given orders (pointless and boring tasks to accomplish)

*Guards were firmly in control and the prisoners were totally dependent on them.

*As the prisoners became more submissive, the guards became more aggressive and assertive.

*They demanded strict obedience from the prisoners. The prisoners were dependent on the guards so tried to find ways to please the guards, such as "telling tales" on fellow prisoners.

*Zimbardo had intended that the experiment should run for a fourteen days, but on the sixth day he closed it down (due to real danger that someone might be physically or mentally damaged if it was allowed to run on)

Results

65% of teachers used highest shock levelMilgram divided participants into 3 categories1. Obeyed but justified themselves2. Obeyed but blamed themselves3. Rebelled

Introduction

Similarities to Prison Experiment

*The Stanford prison experiment was a study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard.

*August 14 to August 20 of 1971

*Led by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo.

*Funded by the US Office of Naval Research

*24 male students with randomly assigned roles of prisoners and guards in a mock prison

*Took place in the basement of the Stanford psychology building.

The experiment was abruptly stopped after only six days.

Guards

Works Cited

*Issued a khaki uniform, a whistle, handcuffs, and dark sunglasses (to make eye contact with the prisoners impossible)

*No physical violence was permitted

Both Zimbardo and Milgram were surprised and disturbed by resultsExperiments show affects and influence of authority positionsExamples of how morals and ethics hold up when put under social and authoritative pressure

Prisoners

*Arrested at their own homes, without warning, and taken to the local police station.

*Treated like every other criminal.

*They were fingerprinted, photographed and ‘booked’.

*They were blindfolded and driven to the psychology department of Stanford University (Zimbardo had had the basement set out as a prison, with barred doors and windows, bare walls and small cells)

*The deindividuation process began.

The Stanford Prison Experiment

Patrick, Cassie, Andi, Shiya