The Stanford Prison and BBC Prison Experiments Comparison

Categories: Comparison Human Nature Stanford Prison Experiment

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Throughout the studies conducted, it became evident that the behavior of individuals, particularly the 'normal' students who were randomly assigned to different roles, was significantly influenced by the roles they were given. This led them to fully embrace and believe in the roles they were assigned, ultimately rejecting the dispositional hypothesis. The Stanford Prison Experiment serves as a prime example of how powerful situational factors can be in shaping human behavior. The guards, placed in positions of authority, began to exhibit behaviors that were vastly different from their usual conduct in everyday life or in different circumstances.

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On the other hand, the prisoners, stripped of control in a situation of power imbalance, became passive and despondent. Zimbardo's assertion that the behavior observed in prisons can be better understood through a situational lens holds weight. He emphasized the impact of social roles on the behavior of both prisoners and guards. However, it is important to note that individuals exhibited varying coping mechanisms in response to this unique and challenging experience.

While some prisoners endured the oppressive environment, not all guards succumbed to hostility. Some maintained a tough yet fair demeanor, while others crossed boundaries by engaging in acts of cruelty and harassment that exceeded their designated roles.

The BBC study introduced a crucial distinction between having a group role imposed upon an individual and an individual internalizing that role. The findings of this study diverged significantly from those of the Stanford Prison Experiment. Firstly, there was no automatic conformity among guards to their roles, and secondly, as the sense of shared identity among prisoners increased due to manipulations, they exhibited heightened resistance to the guards' authority over time.

The BBC Study stands out as more credible compared to the Stanford Prison Experiment due to the innovative techniques and stringent precautions implemented. The simulated prison environment was meticulously designed to mirror a real prison setting, devoid of windows and isolated from external influences.

The guards maintained constant surveillance over the prisoners, monitoring their activities through screens in their cells. They had access to exercise areas and comfortable bedrooms with quality beds, creating an authentic prison atmosphere. This attention to detail enhances the reliability and credibility of the study. In society, we all assume various roles, and these social roles inevitably shape our identities to some extent.

Each role comes with its own set of expectations and norms dictating how we should behave. For instance, the expectations surrounding the role of a student may vastly differ from those of an audience member at a theatrical production like the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Similarly, there are distinct expectations associated with the roles of prisoners and prison guards.