Understanding the Stanford Prison Experiment

What was the primary question the Stanford Prison Experiment aimed to explore?

• The role of genetics in personality development

• The impact of diet on behavior

• The influence of roles and group identity on behavior

• The effect of sleep deprivation on decision making

How is psychology categorized in comparison to sciences like mathematics and physics?

• As a natural science

• As an applied science

• As a soft science

• As a hard science

What is a key challenge in psychological experiments compared to hard sciences?

• Limited access to technology

• Shortage of participants

• Difficulty in quantifying human behavior

• Lack of funding

What was a significant ethical issue in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

• Participants were not allowed to leave when they wanted

• Participants were not informed about the study

• Participants were not given food

• Participants were not paid

Why was the Stanford Prison Experiment terminated early?

• Technical difficulties

• Abusive behavior by the guards

• Lack of funding

• Natural disaster

What role did Zimbardo play in the experiment that may have biased the results?

• He was a prisoner

• He was a participant

• He acted as the prison superintendent

• He was a guard

What did critics argue about the participants' behavior in the experiment?

• They were not affected by their roles

• They were unaware of the study's purpose

• They were not influenced by the experiment

• They acted according to what they thought was expected

What was a major flaw in the Stanford Prison Experiment according to critics?

• It was too short

• It was too expensive

• It lacked a control group

• It was biased by the researcher's involvement

What did the 2002 replication attempt by Haslam and Reicher reveal?

• The original findings were completely accurate

• Leadership played a significant role in behavior

• The experiment was impossible to replicate

• Participants did not internalize their roles

What is the general consensus among psychologists about the Stanford Prison Experiment?

• It is a model of perfect experimental design

• It is a fascinating but flawed study

• It is irrelevant to modern psychology

• It is the most reliable psychological study