Aim: The BBC prison experiment was a study that tested the psychological effect of people being placed in an environment where there was inequality in terms of power, status and resources. As stated by Haslam and Reicher, they “were trying to investigate the factors (e.g., social identification, permeability, cognitive alternatives) that determine when people act as group members and how they respond to an unequal social system.” (Haslam and Reicher, 2008).
Method: Fifteen men were chosen to participate in the eight-day long experiments, who were divided into groups of ten prisoners and five guards.
The guards arrived at the prison in blacked out cars. They were briefly given information the previous night as to making rules, all resources …show more content…
Personal valuables such as watches and clothing were taken away and their hair was shaved off. The prisoners were then locked up in a small cell with two other prisoners. (‘Reicher and Haslam (BBC prison study)’, n.d.) Though prisoners were unhappy about their mistreatment, they still obeyed orders and realised their position as prisoners just as the guards had realised their role as superior figures. (‘The Experiment’, …show more content…
It has been suggested that the participants’ behaviour could be influenced by the fact they were aware that they were continuously observed and filmed by television cameras, and that the footage would be broadcasted on television. As Zimbardo stated in his commentary on the BBC prison study, “In our study, video-recording was concealed and never apparent to participants, and none wore microphones to make them aware of being under surveillance. In theirs, it was obvious that everything was being recorded at all times.” (P. Zimbardo, 2006). Zimbardo is possibly implying that Haslam and Reicher’s study could have produced false information due to this. But, Haslam and Reicher argued that the participants’ behaviours were supported by psychological or physiological evidence and testing. Furthermore, they explained that play-acting could not be the reason behind the participants’ behaviour changes and was highly unlikely over the long period of
Method: Fifteen men were chosen to participate in the eight-day long experiments, who were divided into groups of ten prisoners and five guards.
The guards arrived at the prison in blacked out cars. They were briefly given information the previous night as to making rules, all resources …show more content…
Personal valuables such as watches and clothing were taken away and their hair was shaved off. The prisoners were then locked up in a small cell with two other prisoners. (‘Reicher and Haslam (BBC prison study)’, n.d.) Though prisoners were unhappy about their mistreatment, they still obeyed orders and realised their position as prisoners just as the guards had realised their role as superior figures. (‘The Experiment’, …show more content…
It has been suggested that the participants’ behaviour could be influenced by the fact they were aware that they were continuously observed and filmed by television cameras, and that the footage would be broadcasted on television. As Zimbardo stated in his commentary on the BBC prison study, “In our study, video-recording was concealed and never apparent to participants, and none wore microphones to make them aware of being under surveillance. In theirs, it was obvious that everything was being recorded at all times.” (P. Zimbardo, 2006). Zimbardo is possibly implying that Haslam and Reicher’s study could have produced false information due to this. But, Haslam and Reicher argued that the participants’ behaviours were supported by psychological or physiological evidence and testing. Furthermore, they explained that play-acting could not be the reason behind the participants’ behaviour changes and was highly unlikely over the long period of