TABASSUM RAHMAN
ZIMBARDO ET AL. PRISON STUDY
AIM
To investigate the role of deindividuation in ‘total institutions’, where people are moved from
their normal environment and stripped of their individuality
PROCEDURE
A simulated prison was created in the basement of Stanford University psychology department.
24 emotionally stable male participants were randomly assigned to the role of guards or the
role of prisoners. Guards and prisoners were deindividuated to become anonymous members
of their groups. The guards had complete control over their prisoners, who were confined to
their cells around the clock.
FINDINGS
The guards created a brutal atmosphere. Prisoners began to react passively, s the guards
stepped up their aggression which took verbal and physical forms. Prisoners felt helpless and
no longer in control over their lives. Every guard behaved in an abusive, authoritarian way,
many seemed to enjoy the power and control that went with the uniform
CONCLUSION
Deindividuation lads to a lowered sense of personal identity and a host of disinhibited antisocial
behaviours, such as psychological and physical aggression.
EVALUATION
Both the environment and the behaviour of guards and prisoners were ‘realistic’. The
findings therefore have ecological validity and can be applied to real prisons. The results
were especially surprising given that everyone knew it to be a ‘stimulation’.
The forms of aggression witnessed, both verbal and physical, can be considered realistic
measures of aggression, therefore increasing the study’s validity.
Many aspects of this study were unethical, such as lack of informed consent, and
exposure to stress. Zimbardo fully accepted this criticism, claiming he had been ‘blinded’
by becoming over-involved in the study in his role as ‘prison governor’.
The sample was unrepresentative as it only included only young, middle class male
students.
The findings that deindividuation is an important source of human aggression have
other research support.
ZIMBARDO ET AL. PRISON STUDY
AIM
To investigate the role of deindividuation in ‘total institutions’, where people are moved from
their normal environment and stripped of their individuality
PROCEDURE
A simulated prison was created in the basement of Stanford University psychology department.
24 emotionally stable male participants were randomly assigned to the role of guards or the
role of prisoners. Guards and prisoners were deindividuated to become anonymous members
of their groups. The guards had complete control over their prisoners, who were confined to
their cells around the clock.
FINDINGS
The guards created a brutal atmosphere. Prisoners began to react passively, s the guards
stepped up their aggression which took verbal and physical forms. Prisoners felt helpless and
no longer in control over their lives. Every guard behaved in an abusive, authoritarian way,
many seemed to enjoy the power and control that went with the uniform
CONCLUSION
Deindividuation lads to a lowered sense of personal identity and a host of disinhibited antisocial
behaviours, such as psychological and physical aggression.
EVALUATION
Both the environment and the behaviour of guards and prisoners were ‘realistic’. The
findings therefore have ecological validity and can be applied to real prisons. The results
were especially surprising given that everyone knew it to be a ‘stimulation’.
The forms of aggression witnessed, both verbal and physical, can be considered realistic
measures of aggression, therefore increasing the study’s validity.
Many aspects of this study were unethical, such as lack of informed consent, and
exposure to stress. Zimbardo fully accepted this criticism, claiming he had been ‘blinded’
by becoming over-involved in the study in his role as ‘prison governor’.
The sample was unrepresentative as it only included only young, middle class male
students.
The findings that deindividuation is an important source of human aggression have
other research support.
