Summarize the article “A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated Prison”
1.what is the general topic that the article is addressing? What is the purpose of the research described in this article? What is the author(s) hypothesis/hypotheses?
The article "A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated Prison" is research report by Craig Haney, Curtis Banks and Philip Zimbardo from Stanford University. The research is called Naval Research. The research is "designed to develop a better understanding of the basic psychological mechanisms underlying human aggression" (A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated Prison). The article described that the "prisoners and guards" in the "prison" environment shows how their psychological …show more content…
The total of 24 college students was chosen by the study. Those students were physically and mentally stable. Their family background was most mature, and was not involved in anti- social behaviors. Half of them played the role of "guards" and half of them played the role of "prisoners" selected on a random basis. They were payed $15.00 per day during the research. The "prison" was built in the psychology building at Stanford University. There were three small cells. The "prisoners" remained in the mock-prison 24 hours per day during the study. The "guards" worked eight hours a shift and three of them were on each shift. The role of the “guards” was to maintain a reasonable degree of order within the prison necessary for its effective functioning. The "guards" reported to the administrators the details including: the work-shifts, the mandatory daily completion of shift reports concerning the activity of the guards and the prisoners, and the completion of "critical incident "reports which detailed unusual occurrences, and the administration of meals, work and reaction programs for prisoners". Who were assigned to be prisoners should expect to be under surveillance (have little or no privacy ) and to be have some of their basic civil rights suspected during their imprisonment. No other instructions for them about behavior appropriate for their prisoner role "(A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated …show more content…
Most guards were "just playing the role". Many guards intensified their harassment and aggressive behavior. In a real world where men are either powerful or powerless, everyone learns to despise the lack of power in oneself. For prisoners the syndrome may lose their personal identity and the arbitrary control of their lives. They become more dependent. In conclusion, the study reveals the new dimensions in social psychology of imprisonment worthy of pursuing future research. Since both the prisoners and the guards are locked into a dynamic, symbiotic relationship which is destructive to their human nature, guards are also society 's prisoners.
4.In your opinion, what are the strengths and limitations of this research? Could there have been modifications in the way the study was conducted? What kind of “tips” would you have given the researchers with what you
1.what is the general topic that the article is addressing? What is the purpose of the research described in this article? What is the author(s) hypothesis/hypotheses?
The article "A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated Prison" is research report by Craig Haney, Curtis Banks and Philip Zimbardo from Stanford University. The research is called Naval Research. The research is "designed to develop a better understanding of the basic psychological mechanisms underlying human aggression" (A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated Prison). The article described that the "prisoners and guards" in the "prison" environment shows how their psychological …show more content…
The total of 24 college students was chosen by the study. Those students were physically and mentally stable. Their family background was most mature, and was not involved in anti- social behaviors. Half of them played the role of "guards" and half of them played the role of "prisoners" selected on a random basis. They were payed $15.00 per day during the research. The "prison" was built in the psychology building at Stanford University. There were three small cells. The "prisoners" remained in the mock-prison 24 hours per day during the study. The "guards" worked eight hours a shift and three of them were on each shift. The role of the “guards” was to maintain a reasonable degree of order within the prison necessary for its effective functioning. The "guards" reported to the administrators the details including: the work-shifts, the mandatory daily completion of shift reports concerning the activity of the guards and the prisoners, and the completion of "critical incident "reports which detailed unusual occurrences, and the administration of meals, work and reaction programs for prisoners". Who were assigned to be prisoners should expect to be under surveillance (have little or no privacy ) and to be have some of their basic civil rights suspected during their imprisonment. No other instructions for them about behavior appropriate for their prisoner role "(A Study of Prisoners and Guards in a Simulated …show more content…
Most guards were "just playing the role". Many guards intensified their harassment and aggressive behavior. In a real world where men are either powerful or powerless, everyone learns to despise the lack of power in oneself. For prisoners the syndrome may lose their personal identity and the arbitrary control of their lives. They become more dependent. In conclusion, the study reveals the new dimensions in social psychology of imprisonment worthy of pursuing future research. Since both the prisoners and the guards are locked into a dynamic, symbiotic relationship which is destructive to their human nature, guards are also society 's prisoners.
4.In your opinion, what are the strengths and limitations of this research? Could there have been modifications in the way the study was conducted? What kind of “tips” would you have given the researchers with what you