The Zimbardo experiment

Explain the Zimbardo experiment and what it might imply for correctional professionals.
Is the parole officer’s role to help the parolee stay out of prison or is it to simply identify any violation? If the parolee stumbles should the officers promptly return them to prison?
You are a prison psychologist, and during the course of your counseling session with one drug offender, he confesses that he has been using drugs. Obviously, this is a serious violation of prison rules. What might you do to handle this problem?
Would you want to meet with the murderer of a loved one? Under what circumstances would you recommend them for a restorative justice program?
Discuss a real-world prison or jail known for corruption. If you were in charge of this facility, how would you implement an anticorruption strategy in a prison known for brutality and other forms of corruption?

Full Answer Section The Zimbardo experiment has implications for correctional professionals because it shows how easily people can be influenced by their roles. The guards in the experiment were not sadistic or violent people before they started the experiment, but they became so because of the power that they were given. This suggests that correctional professionals need to be aware of the power that they have over prisoners, and they need to be careful not to abuse that power. The parole officer's role is to help the parolee stay out of prison. This means providing the parolee with resources and support, and helping them to make positive changes in their lives. If the parolee stumbles, the parole officer should not promptly return them to prison. Instead, the parole officer should try to understand why the parolee stumbled, and they should work with the parolee to develop a plan to stay on track. If the parolee continues to violate the terms of their parole, then the parole officer may need to return them to prison. However, this should be a last resort. As a prison psychologist, I would handle the problem of a drug-addicted prisoner by first trying to understand why the prisoner is using drugs. Is it because they are trying to self-medicate for a mental health condition? Is it because they are trying to cope with the stress of being in prison? Once I understand the reasons why the prisoner is using drugs, I can then work with them to develop a plan to get sober. This plan might include individual therapy, group therapy, or medication management. I would also work with the prisoner's parole officer to make sure that they have the support they need to stay sober after they are released from prison. I would not want to meet with the murderer of a loved one. I believe that it would be too painful for me to do so. However, I would recommend them for a restorative justice program if I thought that it would be helpful for them. Restorative justice is a process that allows victims and offenders to meet face-to-face and discuss the crime that was committed. The goal of restorative justice is to help the victim heal and to help the offender understand the harm that they have caused. I believe that restorative justice can be a helpful tool for some victims and offenders, but it is not right for everyone. If I were in charge of a prison known for corruption, I would implement an anticorruption strategy that includes the following elements:
  • Strong leadership: The warden of the prison should be committed to creating a corruption-free environment.
  • Transparency: The prison should have clear policies and procedures that are enforced consistently.
  • Accountability: Employees should be held accountable for their actions, and there should be a process for reporting and investigating corruption.
  • Training: Employees should be trained on the importance of integrity and the dangers of corruption.
I believe that these elements would help to create a prison environment where corruption is less likely to occur.
Sample Answer The Zimbardo experiment was a social psychology experiment that was conducted in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University. The experiment was designed to study the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or a prison guard. The experiment involved 24 male college students who were randomly assigned to the role of prisoner or guard. The prisoners were placed in a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University's psychology building. The guards were given uniforms and whistles, and they were instructed to maintain order in the prison. The experiment was supposed to last for two weeks, but it was terminated after six days because the guards were becoming increasingly aggressive and the prisoners were becoming increasingly submissive.