National Counselor Exam (NCE)

What factor contributed to the harsh treatment of prisoners in the Stanford prison study?

1. The individual personalities of the guards

2. Social context of the prison setting

3. Inherent violence in male psychology

4. Prior experiences of the participants

The correct answer is: Social context of the prison setting

The social context of the prison setting played a crucial role in the harsh treatment of prisoners during the Stanford prison study. This study was designed to explore the psychological effects of perceived power and authority, creating an environment where guards and prisoners adopted their roles based on the situational context rather than their individual personalities or past experiences. The atmosphere of a prison setting, characterized by strict hierarchies and the potential for abuse of power, influenced the guards to behave aggressively and authoritarianly, leading to the mistreatment of the participants assigned as prisoners. The dynamic created by the environment was pivotal; it emphasized how situational factors could overshadow individual characteristics, resulting in extreme behaviors that were not previously evident in the participants' personalities. This underscores the powerful impact that context and situational variables can have on human behavior, particularly in roles associated with authority and subjugation.