Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Stanford Prison Experiment, Demand Characteristics, Cognitive Dissonance

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Zimbardo prison study the stanford prison experiment. Study was conducted in 1971, how conformity can result in acts different from usual. In certain situations can make otherwise ordinary people behave in strange ways. How social conventions can influence behaviours of prisoners/guards. Got so caught up in roles had to stop experiment early. Participants knew all about the study no deception. And participants were definition of normal, with no medical/psychological problems. 18 students randomly assigned to be guards or prisoners. Had participants in prisoners arrested at unexpected times on a random day. Also met with guards and told them they were not supposed to physically harm prisoners, but could create fear/loss of control/loss of individuality. Instructed to refer to prisoners by #s and not names. At some point, guards began to see prisoners as actual dangerous prisoners. And used fire extinguishers on them and forced them to strip down. Prisoners put into solitary confinement, couldn"t lie down or sit.