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The BBC Prison Study: Understanding Social Identity and Power Dynamics

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The BBC Prison Study, conducted by Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher, investigates the effects of imposed inequality and social roles in a mock prison setting. It examines how individuals conform to or resist roles against their values, the emergence of group identity, and the conditions that foster collective action or demoralization. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding power relations and group behavior in societal structures.

Purpose and Context of the BBC Prison Study

The BBC Prison Study, led by psychologists Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher, was an empirical investigation into the social and psychological consequences of imposed inequality and the emergence of social roles within a controlled environment. Inspired by earlier experiments such as the Stanford prison experiment, this study aimed to explore the conditions under which people conform to roles that are antithetical to their personal values and the circumstances that lead them to challenge and change those roles. The study's broader objective was to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that underpin the establishment and contestation of oppressive regimes and the role of group identity in these processes.
Dimly lit prison interior with a row of three open-barred cells, each with a plain cot, and a solitary wooden chair facing them, casting long shadows on the polished stone floor.

Experimental Design and Procedures of the BBC Prison Study

The BBC Prison Study meticulously selected 15 male participants from a larger pool, ensuring they were psychologically well-adjusted and non-aggressive. The participants were randomly assigned to the roles of guards or prisoners, with a ratio of one guard to two prisoners. The experiment was conducted in a specially constructed facility that simulated a prison environment, complete with cells, communal areas, and surveillance systems. Guards were instructed to maintain order without the use of physical violence, while prisoners were given a routine to follow. Researchers collected data through continuous video monitoring, psychological assessments, and physiological measures to gain a comprehensive understanding of the participants' behavior and psychological states.

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Leaders of the BBC Prison Study

Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher

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Inspirational precursor to the BBC Study

Stanford prison experiment

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BBC Study's insight on group identity

Group identity's role in establishing/challenging oppressive regimes

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