To investigate tyranny at a group level by role-playing as prisoners and guards in a prison setting
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How many participants were there?
15 males
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How were the participants recruited?
Through newspaper advertisements and through leaflets
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What were the participants like?
They were psychologically tested and they were all well-adjusted; there was a range of age social class and ethnicity
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What are some of the ways data was compiled?
From observations, video/tape recordings, analysis of conversation and psychological as well as physiological testing
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Though it is similar to a field experiment was is the study actually? (according to Reicher and Haslam)
An experimental case study (So it can be just considered as a case study)
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How were the groups split?
They were split into 5 groups of 3 and they were matched for similarities
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How was the guard selected?
One person from each group was chosen at random
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What were the guards' job and what did they have to do at the beginning?
They were told that they had to ensure the prison runs smoothly and they had to devise rules and punishments that were not violence
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Why were the prisoners envious?
They had better treatment, such as better food, better accomodation, etc.
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The researchers '___________ ______' to see the effect on '_________' - fill in the sentence
'Manipulated events' and 'behaviour'
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What did they tell the prisoners on the 3rd day in?
That there was a chance for promotion and anyone could become a guard, but soon after they removed this chance
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What happened 6th day in?
The researchers told the participants that there was actually no real difference between the guards and prisoners but it was too late to change anything
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What were some good ethical controls in place?
Participants signed a comprehensive consent form, there was a paramedic on standby throughout, there was an ethics committee that monitored, they were screened for their psychological state daily
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What were the results?
The guards did not see themselves as a group, and neither did the prisoners up to day 3, but when there was a common goal they became more cohesive and powerful (even more so than the guards) and there was a power shift
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What happened after their desire to revolt?
By day 6, the system had collapsed and a single self-governing commune arose by majority decision. However, 2 days after it collapsed too and the study was concluded
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What were the conclusions?
Groups create social order based on shared values and norms, the members work together to become strong. Tyranny arises from failed groups and not from the groups themselves. Also people don't accept roles automatically that are assigned to them
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