Insights on Behavior and Attitudes: Stanford Prison Experiment Analysis

1. Ch 4 - Behavior and Attitudes Part 2: Feb 9

2. Stanford Prison Experiment(continued) • By day 2, guards were clearly ‘into their roles’. Sadistic, cruel behaviors. • Prisoners had become passive, some had to leave the experiment due to distress. • Not secluded - family and friends visited, chaplain, ‘lawyers’. • No one complained about treatment.

3. Stanford Prison Experiment • Experiment called off by Day 6. • How/Why? • This experiment wouldn’t take place today • Why? • What are Zimbardo’s views of this?

4. Lessons from the SPE • The power of the situation is huge. • Roles determined behavior to a large extent. • Remember - NO differences in students before the experiment (random assignment). • Behaviors --> Attitudes?? • Applications?

5. Overview of Attitude Theories • Cognitive dissonance theory – justify our actions to reduce our discomfort • Self-presentation theory – express attitudes that make us seem consistent. • Self-perception theory – when uncertain about our beliefs, we look at our behavior for clues. • Self-verification theory – we have a need to seek confirmation of our self-concept, whether it is pos or neg.

6. Cognitive Dissonance • 1 powerful determinant of our behavior is the need to preserve a positive self-image. • When we do something to cause us discomfort because it goes against our usual self-image, cognitive dissonance results. • 3 ways to reduce dissonance:

7. Festinger’s Cog Diss research • Boring experiment – then asked to lie to another ‘subject’ & say it was interesting. • Then, measured attitudes… • Who was more likely to be positive – those paid $1 or $20? • Insufficient justification – how does it work?

8. Cognitive Dissonance (cont) • Use only enough incentive to get someone to internalize the attitude. • Internal justification • Go overboard  they need the incentive to do the behavior. • External justification • What is our tendency after deciding betw 2 equally attractive options?

9. Application to child behavior/values • Does threat of harsh punishment work? • Example of bullying in children • How can we get children to internalize values of not bullying younger siblings? • Aronson study of mild/harsh punishment for playing w/forbidden toys • Did self-persuasion have a long-lasting effect?

10. Self-Presentation • Impression management causes change in attitudes. • Adjust our attitudes to be consistent with behaviors • But….sometimes express our new attitudes to those who haven’t seen our behaviors.

11. Self-Perception Theory • When unsure of our attitudes, we look at our behavior as if we are observers. • Rate cartoons as funnier if holding pen between teeth & using smiling muscles (facial feedback hypothesis). • Also suggest unnecessary rewards have hidden cost. • Overjustification effect- what is it?

12. Self-verification theory • The need to seek confirmation of our self-concept whether it is pos or negative • Can sometimes conflict w/need to maintain favorable view of oneself • If negative self-concept, what is the dilemma? • When do negative self-concept people feel dissonance? • Summary of theories?