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Criminal Psychology

Haney et al. (1973) simulated prison study: results, conclusions and evaluation

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 03

Overview

Recall questions on the guards' worsening behaviour, the prisoners' psychological reactions, why the study was stopped, Haney et al.'s conclusion, and the evaluation of method, findings, Zimbardo's dual role, ethics and relevance to imprisonment.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Evaluation

Give one strength of Haney et al.'s method.

Key term

Describe how the prisoners reacted psychologically.

Key term

State the conclusion Haney et al. drew.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why did the guards' behaviour worsen at night?

    Model answer

    They believed the researchers were not watching, so the restraint imposed by observation was removed and their treatment of the prisoners became more abusive.

  2. 2

    Describe how the prisoners reacted psychologically.

    Model answer

    Five had to be released early with extreme depression, crying, rage or acute anxiety, one developed a psychosomatic rash, and the rest became passive and obedient, talking almost entirely about prison matters.

  3. 3

    When and why was the study stopped?

    Model answer

    It was ended after six days rather than the planned two weeks, because the prisoners were suffering real distress and the guards' cruelty was escalating.

  4. 4

    State the conclusion Haney et al. drew.

    Model answer

    Ordinary, healthy people conform rapidly to the social roles they are given, so the pathology found in prisons is produced by the prison situation rather than by the character of those inside it.

  5. 5

    Give one strength of Haney et al.'s method.

    Model answer

    Participants were carefully screened and randomly allocated to roles, and behaviour was recorded on video as well as observed, giving rich and well-controlled data.

  6. 6

    Give one methodological criticism of the findings.

    Model answer

    Participants may have been play-acting to a stereotype of guards and prisoners drawn from films rather than genuinely conforming, and demand characteristics were strong.

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APunishment requires deprivation, loss of autonomy and stigma.
BReform requires trust, responsibility and self-respect.
CThe regime that achieves one tends to undermine the other.

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