The BBC prison study ( Reicher and haslam 2006)

To investigate the effects on behaviour of putting participant into two groups unequal in terms of power

• field study by BBC
• 15 men took part in a simulated prison style
• Range of age, social class and ethnicity
• put into 5 groups of 3
• 1 person for each group joined the guards
• participants were psychometrically tested and physically measure of stress taken
• Guards made sure the prison ran smoothly and to make rules
• Researchers were told they could get promoted and then it was taken away from them
• six days in, the experimenters told participants there were no real difference between the guards and prisoners

• The prisoners adjusted their behaviour to try get promoted
• The showed strong social identity and then tried to change the system
• Guards did not share social identity
• Prisoners gained demand by the  fourth day because of the lack of social identity that the guards had
• By day six the system collapsed

When groups are formed with shared norms and values, the members work together and become strong.

When there was a possibility of promotion the groups behaviour changed as thry do not have shared norms and values

• Demand characteristic as participants may have managed their behaviour in order to look good
• It also lacks ecological validity
• It could be argued that the prisoners had more demanding characteristics
• Participant were screened
• Supported by Zimbardo 1971 Standford prison experiment