Zimbardo Research Paper
Zimbardo Research Paper
Leslie Massey
PSYCH/620
01/22/2015
Professor Sharon McNelly
Zimbardo Research Paper The Stanford Prison Experiment was a study conducted in 1971 by Dr. Phillip Zimbardo. According to Dr. Steve Taylor (2007), “It’s probably the best known psychological study of all time.” (Classic Studies in Psychology, 2007). Zimbardo stated that the point was to see what would happen if he put “really good people in a bad place” (Dr. Zimbardo, 2007). He did this during a time were most college students were protesting for peace and were against anything authoritarian. The experiment contained both positive and negative aspects; which will be discussed further in this paper.
Value of the Study The value of the study in relation to social psychology was the demonstration on how social roles can have a negative effect on a person’s behavior. It showed that putting an individual in a bad situation can potentially change their behavior or basic personal characteristic. I opened the path to further examining how situations individuals are placed in can drastically their behavior. The experiment showed that with random assignment, the social class of individuals before the experiment did not matter. It also showed that when told to do what is necessary to maintain order in the makeshift prison, the guards took actions that they probably would never have done in their life. It showed how easily people can change in order to maintain control and authority.
Relevance of the Study The relevance of the Stanford Prison Experiment in relation to contemporary world issues can show how there are situations that can force an individual to adapt. Herbert offered an example that involved the case of military personal and their mistreatment of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Iraq. During the trial of one of the accused, Staff SGT. Ivan Frederick, Zimbardo stood as an expert witness in defense of Frederick. According to Herbert (2007) Zimbardo
Leslie Massey
PSYCH/620
01/22/2015
Professor Sharon McNelly
Zimbardo Research Paper The Stanford Prison Experiment was a study conducted in 1971 by Dr. Phillip Zimbardo. According to Dr. Steve Taylor (2007), “It’s probably the best known psychological study of all time.” (Classic Studies in Psychology, 2007). Zimbardo stated that the point was to see what would happen if he put “really good people in a bad place” (Dr. Zimbardo, 2007). He did this during a time were most college students were protesting for peace and were against anything authoritarian. The experiment contained both positive and negative aspects; which will be discussed further in this paper.
Value of the Study The value of the study in relation to social psychology was the demonstration on how social roles can have a negative effect on a person’s behavior. It showed that putting an individual in a bad situation can potentially change their behavior or basic personal characteristic. I opened the path to further examining how situations individuals are placed in can drastically their behavior. The experiment showed that with random assignment, the social class of individuals before the experiment did not matter. It also showed that when told to do what is necessary to maintain order in the makeshift prison, the guards took actions that they probably would never have done in their life. It showed how easily people can change in order to maintain control and authority.
Relevance of the Study The relevance of the Stanford Prison Experiment in relation to contemporary world issues can show how there are situations that can force an individual to adapt. Herbert offered an example that involved the case of military personal and their mistreatment of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Iraq. During the trial of one of the accused, Staff SGT. Ivan Frederick, Zimbardo stood as an expert witness in defense of Frederick. According to Herbert (2007) Zimbardo