Understanding the Stanford Prison Experiment

What was the aim of Zimbardo's 1973 study?

• To investigate the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or prison guard

• To study the long-term effects of imprisonment

• To understand the administrative challenges of running a prison

• To explore the dietary habits of prisoners

How were participants selected for the experiment?

• Through a lottery system

• From a newspaper advertisement

• By volunteering without compensation

• From a pool of psychology students

What roles were participants randomly assigned to?

• Prisoner or guard

• Doctor or patient

• Judge or lawyer

• Student or teacher

How many prisoners and guards were there initially after one person dropped out?

• 11 prisoners and 10 guards

• 10 prisoners and 11 guards

• 12 prisoners and 9 guards

• 9 prisoners and 12 guards

What did the guards wear during the experiment?

• Casual clothing

• Business suits

• Khaki shirts and trousers

• Orange jumpsuits

How did the prisoners' attire contribute to the experiment?

• It made them indistinguishable from the guards

• It had no effect on the experiment

• It was designed to be humiliating

• It made them feel more powerful

What was a significant result of the experiment?

• Guards and prisoners did not take their roles seriously

• The experiment had no significant findings

• Prisoners and guards formed a cohesive unit

• Guards became abusive and prisoners showed signs of extreme stress

Why was the experiment terminated early?

• Due to lack of funding

• Participants refused to continue

• All objectives were achieved sooner than expected

• Ethical concerns raised by Christina Maslach

What conclusion can be drawn from Zimbardo's experiment?

• People's behavior is mostly influenced by their personalities

• Individuals conform to the roles they are given, influenced by situational factors

• The results were inconclusive

• The prison environment has little to no effect on individuals

How did the experiment support the situational explanation of behavior?

• By showing that behavior is fixed and unchangeable

• Through demonstrating the impact of assigned roles on behavior

• By disproving the influence of situational factors

• None of the above