Critics of the Stanford Prison Study Argue That

question 106

Multiple Choice

Critics of the Stanford prison study argue that:

• A) the methodology was flawed, because participants were not randomly assigned to either the prisoner role or the guard role.
• B) by stopping the study after six days, instead of letting it continue for the two-week experimental period, the researchers had not allowed enough time for dramatic change to occur.
• C) a makeshift prison in the basement of a university building was not an effective setting to investigate the factors involved.
• D) briefing the guards at the beginning of the study influenced their behavior, and the study merely showed how willingly people obey orders.

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Definitions:

Secure Attachment Style

A type of attachment characterized by feelings of security and confidence in relationships, stemming from positive early interactions with caregivers.

Dismissive Avoidant

A personality attachment style characterized by a desire to remain independent and emotionally distant from others to avoid attachment.

Anxious-Ambivalent

A term often used in attachment theory to describe individuals who are overly needy and preoccupied with their relationships.

Terror Management Theory

A psychological concept suggesting that a primary motive of human behavior is to manage the fear of death by pursuing self-esteem and faith in one's worldview.