which of the following best describes the subjects selected for zimbardo’s study? course hero

by Mrs. Gwen Bernhard Jr. 4 min read

What does Zimbardo argue about Abu Ghraib?

Which condition is most likely to be a conformer?

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What does Zimbardo argue about Abu Ghraib?

Zimbardo argues that the abuses at Abu Ghraib were not due to "a few bad apples," but rather to "a bad barrel." What might he mean by this?

Which condition is most likely to be a conformer?

A person is most likely to conform to a group if the person admires the group's status. Solomon Asch found that this was one of the conditions that strengthened conformity.

What Was the Experiment About?

Zimbardo was a former classmate of the psychologist Stanley Milgram. Milgram is best known for his famous obedience experiment .

Who Were the Participants?

The researchers set up a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University's psychology building. They selected 24 undergraduate students to play the roles of both prisoners and guards.

The Setting and Procedures

The simulated prison included three six-by-nine-foot prison cells. Each cell held three prisoners and included three cots.

Results

While the Stanford Prison Experiment was originally slated to last 14 days, it had to be stopped after just six due to what was happening to the student participants. 3 The guards became abusive, and the prisoners began to show signs of extreme stress and anxiety.

Impact

The experiment became famous and was widely cited in textbooks and other publications. According to Zimbardo and his colleagues, the Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrated the powerful role that the situation can play in human behavior. 4

Criticisms of the Stanford Prison Experiment

In the years since the experiment was conducted, there have been a number of critiques of the study. Some of these include:

A Word From Verywell

The Stanford Prison Experiment is well known both in and out of the field of psychology. While the study has long been criticized for many reasons, more recent criticisms of the study's procedures shine a brighter light on the experiment's scientific shortcomings.

What does Zimbardo argue about Abu Ghraib?

Zimbardo argues that the abuses at Abu Ghraib were not due to "a few bad apples," but rather to "a bad barrel." What might he mean by this?

Which condition is most likely to be a conformer?

A person is most likely to conform to a group if the person admires the group's status. Solomon Asch found that this was one of the conditions that strengthened conformity.

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What Was The Experiment About?

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Zimbardo was a former classmate of the psychologist Stanley Milgram. Milgram is best known for his famous obedience experiment. Zimbardo was interested in expanding upon Milgram's research. He wanted to further investigate the impact of situational variables on human behavior. The researchers wondered if physically …
See more on verywellmind.com

Who Were The Participants?

  • The researchers set up a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University's psychology building. They selected 24 undergraduate students to play the roles of both prisoners and guards. The participants were chosen from a larger group of 70 volunteers because they had no criminal background, lacked psychological issues, and had no significant medical conditions. The volunt…
See more on verywellmind.com

The Setting and Procedures

  • The simulated prison included three six-by-nine-foot prison cells. Each cell held three prisoners and included three cots. Other rooms across from the cells were utilized for the jail guards and warden. One tiny space was designated as the solitary confinement room, and yet another small room served as the prison yard. The 24 volunteers were then randomly assigned to either the pri…
See more on verywellmind.com

Results

  • While the Stanford Prison Experiment was originally slated to last 14 days, it had to be stopped after just six due to what was happening to the student participants.3The guards became abusive, and the prisoners began to show signs of extreme stress and anxiety. Some of these included: 1. While the prisoners and guards were allowed to interact in any way they wanted, the interaction…
See more on verywellmind.com

Impact

  • The experiment became famous and was widely cited in textbooks and other publications. According to Zimbardo and his colleagues, the Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrated the powerful role that the situation can play in human behavior.4 Because the guards were placed in a position of power, they began to behave in ways they would not usually act in their everyday live…
See more on verywellmind.com

Criticisms of The Stanford Prison Experiment

  • In the years since the experiment was conducted, there have been a number of critiques of the study. Some of these include:
See more on verywellmind.com

A Word from Verywell

  • The Stanford Prison Experiment is well known both in and out of the field of psychology. While the study has long been criticized for many reasons, more recent criticisms of the study's procedures shine a brighter light on the experiment's scientific shortcomings.
See more on verywellmind.com