Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
"Zimbardo 1971" refers to psychologist Philip Zimbardo who conducted the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment in that year.
Related terms
Situational Attribution: This is attributing someone's behavior more due to situational factors than personal characteristics. Zimbardo argued that the abusive behavior of 'guards' was due more to situational pressures than inherent personality traits.
Ethical Guidelines in Research: These are rules set up by institutions about how research should be conducted ethically. Criticisms of Zimbardo's experiment often focus on ethical issues, such as lack of informed consent and causing harm to participants.
This is the study of how individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others. Zimbardo's experiment is a key study in social psychology.