1.1.5

BBC Prison Study

Test yourself

Reicher and Haslam (2006) - BBC Prison Study

Reicher and Haslam (2006) set up an experiment like Zimbardo's (1971) Stanford prison study. They wanted to observe how dynamics between the group evolved over time.

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Method

  • Controlled observation.
  • Set in a mock prison.
  • Filmed for broadcasting.
  • 15 male volunteers took part. They were assigned roles randomly.
    • 5 = guards.
    • 10 = inmates.
  • Compliance, stress and depression levels were measured daily.
  • They were told that one random prisoner would be promoted and become a guard on day three.
  • An ethics committee was set up. It could stop the experiment at any point.
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Results

  • The guards did not form a group, did not always use their authority and did not identify with their assigned role.
  • The unequal system eventually failed because the guards had a weak group identity and the prisoners formed a strong group identity.
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Results cont.

  • Days 1-3: all prisoners acted in ways that they thought would allow them to become guards.
  • Day 4 onwards: the prisoner group formed a stronger identity because they knew they couldn't get promoted.
  • Day 6: the prisoners rebelled. Participants formed a democracy.
  • Day 6 onwards: the democracy eventually failed because of group tensions. Some ex-prisoners tried to establish a hierarchy.
  • The ethics committee stopped the experiment early because of participants' stress levels.
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Conclusion

  • The volunteers didn't embody or stick to their assigned roles.
  • This implies flexibility of roles.

Evaluation of Reicher and Haslam's (2006) BBC Prison Study

Reicher and Haslam (2006) set up an experiment like Zimbardo's (1973) Stanford prison study. They wanted to observe how dynamics between the group evolved over time.

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Pros of study

  • No deception.
  • Protection - the ethics committee could stop the experiment. Debriefing and counselling offered.
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Cons of study

  • Artificial situation - so the experiment has low ecological validity (cannot be generalised well).
  • Staged for TV - many people (e.g. Zimbardo) claim parts of the study were staged and participants were influenced by the cameras.
  • Lack of empowerment - Zimbardo's guards were prompted to keep order; the guards in this experiment weren't. Perhaps this explains their lack of motivation and empowerment.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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