SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY - Zimbardo Study

Suggest one weakness with the way the participants were selected for the study. (2)

A newspaper ad is restricted to those reading that newspaper, or, volunteers have a number of personality characteristics, may only appeal to those desperate for money!

Describe how participants were selected for the study. (2)

A newspaper ad wanting volunteers for psychological effects of prison life. 70 applicants were given diagnostic interviews, and tests to eliminate psychological problems, medical etc, finishing with a final sample of 24 participants.

Outline the sampling procedure used in the prison simulation study by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo. (2)

A newspaper advertisement offering $15 dollars a day for participating for up to two weeks in a study of prison life.

All studies in psychology raise ethical issues. Outline two ethical issues in the prison simulation study by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo. (4).

Although Zimbardo received approval beforehand from various bodies to undertake the research, subjects had signed informed consent documents, were debriefed and assessed afterwards to ensure no long term effects of participation strong ethical objections were raised. Participants were not informed that they would be arrested at home by real police or taken to a police station. The experiences of the prisoners were harsher than anyone could have predicted and this raises the question of whether the study was cut short soon enough. Zimbardo argued that the major ethical problem was his own role in the study. He lost his objectivity by being the superintendent and this may explain why the study continued as long as it did.

From the study by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo outline two ways in which the situation affected the behaviour of the prisoners or guards. (4)

Any two from the following: The uniforms, the cells, routine, schedule, the confinement, the arrest are all features of the situation - effects are de-individuation, putting people into a social role.

Explain why this evidence indicates the prisoners were taken over by the role. [2]

Because they could have been using this time to get to know one another or talk about other things that would take their mind of the situation they were in, instead they talked as though they were in a real prison and were genuine prisoners. Zimbardo stopped the study after six days because half of the prisoners had to be released because of extreme emotional depression and acute anxiety supporting that they had been taken over by their role.

In the prison simulation by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo, the authors say that the prisoners were taken over by the role they were acting. Describe one piece of evidence that suggests the prisoners were taken over by the role. [2]

Conversations were monitored and these revealed that the prisoners talked about prison life for 90% of the time. Secondly, if they had not been taken over by the role then why did they become so depressed and passive.

Explain how the findings from this study could be useful. (2)

Could be used to make changes o the prison system for example the guidelines for guards' behaviour, the prison conditions, the activities/routine or prison life. Shows the effects of roles on behaviour.

Outline one explanation for the prisoners' reactions (2)

Features of the physical environment of the prison, the guards autonomy and power, acting the role of the prisoner.

The study of Haney, Banks and Zimbardo attempted to simulate the conditions of a real prison. (b) Give two features of the simulation that were not very true to life. [2]

Having the prison in the basement of a university and a broom cupboard for solitary confinement lacked ecological validity. Wearing a nylon stocking was also not very true to real life.

Briefly outline one aspect of the study that challenged its ecological validity. (2)

Having the prison in the basement of the University and a broom cupboard for solitary confinement.

Why is it difficult to follow ethical guidelines in psychology? (2)

It is difficult to follow ethical guidelines in psychology because as illustrated by Zimbardo's investigation, although the ethical implications and psychological consequences of a research design may be considered in advanced, it is not possible to predict accurately how the study might progress.

In the study by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo, the researchers refer to the guards as developing a 'pathology of power'. What does this term mean? (2)

It means that the guards were becoming increasingly abusive to the prisoners.

Suggest whether this study should or should not have been done. (2)

It should have been done because of the powerful insight it has provided into the role of situations and roles on behaviour however, given that no real life applications of the findings were administered to change 'real' prisons one could argue the 'means' did not 'justify' the ends.

Identify two features of the guard uniform. (2)

Khaki shirts and trousers, batons and reflecting sun glasses to facilitate role identification.

Identify two features of the prisoner uniform. (2)

Loose fitting smocks, identification numbers, no underwear, a lock and chain around one ankle , and a nylon stocking cap to cover their hair, also to facilitate role identification.

Briefly describe the sample of participants. (2)

Most Likely: Males who reply to a newspaper advertisement Payment $15 per day Screened and 24 selected Randomly allocated to prisoner or guard All students male and mainly white from USA

Identify two features of the procedure for prisoners before they arrived at the prison. (2)

Most likely: Arrested at their home and put into police car Read their rights Fingerprinted, blindfolded and put into a cell Given an identification number

Give two examples of the 'pathology of power' experienced by the guards. (2)

Most likely: Guards enjoyed the power, some were brutal (eg John Wayne) Guards use psychological tactics: privilege cell Guard grant or deny toilet usage Guards stripping the prisoners naked and removing beds Guards waking prisoners in night to do 'counts'

Give two examples of the pathological prisoner syndrome' experienced by the prisoners (2)

Most likely: Prisoners react emotionally: psychosomatic rash Sense of helplessness and powerlessness: wear smocks, restricted toilet use. Loss of identity e.g. give numbers to priest

Give one example of the behaviour of prisoners. (2)

Most likely: Prisoners were rebellious at the start of the study and some tried to destroy their cells. Prisoners became increasingly passive as the study went on. They meekly gave in to the authority and aggression of the guards (e.g., hours of roll call) Some prisoners had extreme emotional reactions and asked to be released.

Identify two psychological effects this procedure had on the prisoners. (2)

Most likely: Unethical: psychological harm, embarrassment Dehumanising Powerlessness (can't prevent the arrest/procedure)

Briefly describe how one ethical guideline was broken and how one was not broken. (2)

One could argue that the ethical guideline of informed consent was broken, because although they signed various documents of consent they did not know that they would be arrested by real police and taken to a real police station. The issue of debriefing was not broken. Participants were debriefed and assessed weeks, months, and years afterwards to try to ensure no long term effects.

Identify two features of the initiation procedure for the 'prisoners' (the way they were treated after they were arrested). [2]

Participants were arrested, finger printed, stripped and deloused.

What was the dispositional hypothesis that was proposed? (2)

Prisoners and guards have personalities or dispositions that make conflict inevitable.

Give one advantage of using a restricted sample of participants. (2)

Reduces participant variables May allow generalization to that sample type Good for pilot study before further investigation Participants often volunteer - more likely to behave appropriately.

The study of Haney, Banks and Zimbardo attempted to simulate the conditions of a real prison. (a) Give two features of the simulation which were fairly true to life. [2]

The arrests from their homes, the fingerprinting etc.,.

Describe what effect the uniform had on the behaviour of the guards. (2)

The guards felt powerful and macho and de-individuated.

Outline one advantage of selecting a sample in this way. (2)

The method is a quick and relatively cheap way of gaining participants.

Identify two psychological effects of this initiation procedure on the 'prisoners'. [2]

The prisoners showed 'pathological prisoner syndrome' which included disbelief, rebellion and finally negative emotions and behaviours such as passivity and dependence.

In the prison simulation study (by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo), the guards and the prisoners were given distinctive uniforms. For either the guards or the prisoners, (a) Briefly describe the uniforms. [2]

The prisoners wore a dress, no underwear, a stocking cap and an ankle chain. Guards wore khaki shirts and trousers, reflective sunglasses and cried a nightstick (truncheon) and whistle.

To what extent did the results of the study support the dispositional hypothesis? (2)

The results did not support the dispositional hypothesis. The social roles that the participants were given to play were more powerful than anyone had expected and show the effects of power on the guards and powerlessness on prisoners.

Give one reason why the study was stopped early. (2)

The study was stopped because of some of the extreme reactions from the prisoners for example after the second day some displayed emotional reactions including depression, crying and psychosomatic attacks.

In the study by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo the participants went through an induction procedure. Describe two features of the induction procedure that were true to real life. (4)

The surprise arrest on Sunday outside their house by real police; taken to real police station for finger printing and processing.

Describe one psychological effect this dependency had on prisoners. (2)

They demonstrated learned helplessness and passivity.

Given an example of the guards' behaviour that illustrates their pathology of power. (2)

They made excessive role calls, worked extra time for no pay and were disappointed when the study was over. They abused and dehumanised the prisoners re-defining the prisoners' rights as privileges and punishment was applied with no justification.

Explain the social processes of this behaviour. (2)

This behaviour shows the initial reaction to oppression by the guards as the prisoners wanted to stand up for themselves and show they were not accepting of the guards' authority. This behaviour shows the process of pathological prisoner syndrome. The prisoners became more and more withdrawn and passive as the guard aggression increased. This behaviour shows the process of powerlessness felt by the prisoners as the guards increased their authority over the prisoners as each day passed.

In the prison simulation study (by Haney, Banks and Zimbardo), the guards and the prisoners were given distinctive uniforms. For either the guards or the prisoners,(b) Outline one effect the uniform had on behaviour. [2]

This made the prisoners feel humiliated and emasculated. The guards felt powerful and macho. Both guards and prisoners were de-individuated.

Identify two behaviours for which the prisoners depended on the guards. (2)

Toilet visits and meals.

Describe the prisoners' uniform. (2)

a dress, no underwear, stocking cap and ankle chain.

Outline what effect the uniform had on prisoners' behavior. (2)

de-masculised and de-individuated.

Briefly outline one aspect of the Haney, Banks and Zimbardo (prison simulation) that added to its ecological validity. (2)

the initiation procedures such as the finger printing, the arrest on the Sunday.

Suggest one disadvantage of recruiting participants through newspaper advertisements (2)

• may not be representative of wider population • targets only those reading that particular newspaper • those replying, volunteers, may possess particular characteristics • the sample will not include those who will not reply to a newspaper advertisement

Suggest one advantage of recruiting participants through newspaper advertisements. (2)

• target population wider and larger than say student sample • potentially wide range of respondents: age, occupation, etc. • the wording of advert can attract particular features or characteristics 1 mark partial, 2 marks expansion. (2)