Well I've written the answer to the essay exam question, as it is practice and not for the exam, so its safe for me to post it.
Quote: "
"Briefly outline findings from studies of Majority Influence (Conformity) and consider the value of such research." [18 Marks]
With Zimbardo et al's (1975) prison experiment they found various events of conformity. Within the first couple of days prisoners managed to form a rebellion against the guards. After stopping the problem some guards decided that should all step up their agression, which made the prisoners act more passive. Further on during the experiment a rumour of a planned prison break, where the guards prepared for a whole day against, but nothing happened which made the guards angry at the prisoners making them act agressively against them for it. Every guard at some point behaved abusively towards prisoners and some of which enjoyed it. Due to the conditions of the prisoners the experiment was abandoned after 6 days prior to the 2 weeks originally planned.
A question of validity of the experiment occurs, modern prsions do not share the conditions demonstrated and if they did then problems of human rights and laws would be put into action. And as Zimbardo did not have or know his independant variable, doesn't make this experiment very valid and devalues the use of the experiement. Although it does not demonstrate the conditions of common prisons, but this does simulate similar conditions found today in Iraq with US Soldiers, where many prisoners have been mistreated similar to that with the Zimbardo experiment where guards have found to be sadistic.
So this would make it valuable when comparing the effects of badly conditioned prisons, however with conformity it can be said that there is little value found because of the validity, and in comparison to this experiment, other studies such as those composed by Asch, which have demonstrated similar amounts of conformity but in less extreme conditions. Alternatively this does support the finding found by Asch but with more extreme conditions making ideas of conformity more generalised. Now that this experiment would be illegal (although it was unethical 30 years ago anyway) to replicate this experiment for further study, meaning we will make value of what we have been given by this experiment comparing to other studies.
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