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The BBC Prison Study: Understanding Group Behavior and Power Dynamics

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The BBC Prison Study, conducted by Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher, investigates group behavior and power dynamics in a mock prison. It examines how individuals react to inequality, the role of social identity in resistance, and the effects of non-physical rule enforcement. The study's interventions and outcomes offer insights into the psychology of authority and collective action.

Exploring the Aims of the BBC Prison Study

The BBC Prison Study, an empirical investigation led by psychologists Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher in 2002, sought to explore the social and psychological mechanisms that underpin group behavior and power dynamics within a simulated prison environment. Building on the foundations of earlier research, such as the Stanford prison experiment, this study aimed to provide a more ethically sound examination of how individuals respond to systems of inequality and how they may organize to resist authoritarian regimes. The researchers focused on the conditions that foster conformity to roles within a hierarchy and the factors that galvanize collective action against perceived injustices.
High-contrast photograph of diverse people sitting in a circle on simple chairs in a bare room, with soft lighting and soft colors.

Methodological Approach of the BBC Prison Study

The BBC Prison Study meticulously screened over 300 male applicants to select 15 participants without histories of violence or psychological vulnerability. These participants were randomly assigned to the roles of guards or prisoners, with guards being mistakenly portrayed as having superior qualities. The experiment was conducted in a constructed prison setting, which included communal areas, guard observation rooms, and prisoner cells. Guards were empowered to create and enforce rules, but only through non-physical means. Data collection was comprehensive, utilizing video surveillance, psychological assessments, and physiological measures such as cortisol levels to gauge stress.

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BBC Prison Study Year and Leaders

Conducted in 2002 by psychologists Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher.

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Ethical Comparison to Stanford Experiment

Aimed for a more ethically sound approach than the Stanford prison experiment.

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Research Focus of BBC Prison Study

Examined conditions for role conformity and factors driving resistance to authority.

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