Zimbardo Research Paper

Running head: ZIMBARDO RESEARCH PAPER Zimbardo Research Paper Lisa Lopez Univercity of Phoenix Psych 620 Jay Greiner August 09, 2015  Zimbardo Research Paper Introduction A social psychology study was done back in 1971 to help students earn some extra money by responding to an ad in a newspaper. Psychological tests were taken as part of the interview and out of 75 people who responded, only 24 people were chosen for this experiment whose test came back normal and healthy. In the experiment, 12 people were assigned to be prison inmates and the other 12 guard’s at this prison. The experiment was to last two weeks. The chosen guards reported a day early for the experiment. The value of the study in relation to social psychology The value of the study according to Dr. Zimbardo was to show how social roles can influence behaviors. Zimbardo simulated a university’s basement into mock prison. The 12 people who were not assigned as guards were arrested in the street, their homes, and taken to the mock prison. Not one of the 12 who were arrested had ever been in trouble with the law. The behaviors of the people will change according to the situation that is presented in society. People who are in society are not expected to behave randomly when there is a suggested way that people act when in particular situations (McLeod, 2008). An example would be a family going out to a fine dining restaurant. One would expect to have a nice quiet meal for the evening. When people are placed in an unexpected situation, ones behaviors may change according to the situation (McLeod, 2008). The value of the social role in this Zimbardo experiment was to see if people could and would conform under intense circumstances such as being put in jail. We will see if conformed behaviors happened in this trial. The relevance of the study in relation to contemporary world issues The connection that is being made that people will tend conform in unwelcome situations (McLeod, 2008). People will conform and adapt to new situations to make things and life go more smoothly (McLeod, 2008). Even though this was a trial experiment the people did sign up for an unknowing experimental trial. During this trial is that people will take blame for something that they actually did not do. The prisoners had such a hard time dealing with the circumstances that they asked for forgiveness, and a lesser punishment. When someone is in a situation of torture they will behave in ways that they normally would not in order to have a lesser punishment. This would be the prisoners conforming to the guard’s demands and doing exactly what they wanted them to do. Zimbardo did stress in his study that admitting something does undermine cognitive dissonance. This also allows for someone to remain in a prison trial did prove that a person can adapt to an assigned role when they are put into a position to do so. The problems and ethical concerns the study created The problems that occurred were human rights being violated (McLeod, 2008). Everything but breathing became a privilege; even down to the use of a bathroom. The inmates were forced to clean the bathrooms with their bare hands. The inmates were stripped naked; with threats of sexual harassment, as they would not comply with the order of the guards. Food was restricted, along with clothing, and blankets. In order of someone being released from solitary confinement; all prisoners would have to give up their blanket, all but one did. The mattress pad they slept on was taken at various times, and the guards started acting in violent anger manner, and even sadistic ways. The problem is, with a trial as the prison experiment it went to violent, way too fast. This only sends negative messages to people in general that it is okay to abuse a human being in order to their obedience (McLeod, 2008). It has been stated that in prison systems that the abuse comes from the top down (McLeod, 2008). Current safeguards in place to reduce the likelihood of ethical concerns arising in research studies Safeguards will include redesigning the framework and applying modifications that adhere to the guidelines, a risk benefit evaluation of any test subject (Gostin). The risk benefit is to ensure that anything that is negative that happens the end result is necessary and for a better cause (Gostin). If the benefit is not outweighing the risk, then the processes and or trial should not take place since more harm will be done. Monitoring of all testing is going to be required and reviewed prior to any trials that are going to be put into action (Gostin). The reviews will all be done on a federal level, and all test subjects will have more information about a trial and the possible effects on the human prior to being entered into (Gostin) Conclusion Many people will abide and conform to the guidelines set in a particular situation. This is general for people to do to follow the rules and uphold the expectations that are set out so they do not have a negative consequence or disproval from others in the roles (McLeod, 2008). The prison experiment shows how people conform to those with power of a social role (McLeod, 2008). References Gostin, L. (2007). Systems of Oversight, Safeguards, and Protections (Gostin) McLeod, S. (2008). Zimbardo- Stanford Prison Experiment. McLeod, S. (2008). Social Roles and Social Norms | Simply Psychology. (McLeod, 2008) Zimbardo Research Paper 5