Sociology · May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Question 1

Source A Zimbardo (1973) conducted an experiment on conformity to social roles. His aim was to investigate whether people would conform to the social roles of a prison guard or prisoner when they were placed in a pretend prison environment. Zimbardo had a sample of 21 male university students. The students volunteered in response to a newspaper advert. The students were then randomly selected to play the role of either a prisoner or a guard. Zimbardo wanted to make the experiment realistic so he turned part of a building into a pretend prison with cells. The students who played the role of prisoners were also arrested by real police, had their fingerprints taken and were given prison clothes to wear with chains around one ankle. The guards wore uniforms and carried handcuffs and a baton. Researchers told the guards to run the prison for two weeks without using physical violence. However, the guards became abusive when the prisoners began to complain. Five of the prisoners left the experiment early because they could not cope physically or mentally. For example, they were crying and experienced extreme anxiety. Zimbardo found that both the prisoners and guards soon identified with their social roles. He concluded that people quickly conform to social roles, even when the role goes against their moral beliefs. Source: https://www.simplypsychology.org/zimbardo.html

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