The BBC Prison Study explores the social and psychological consequences of putting people in groups of unequal power. It examines when people accept inequality and when they challenge it. These findings have changed our basic understanding of how groups and power work. In this program, Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher tell the story of the largest field study in social psychology for over 30 years, using original illustrative film from the BBC series. As well as documenting their study, Haslam and Reicher look at social identity and its implications, the ethics of the study, their sources of data, and comparisons with the Stanford Prison Study.
The BBC Prison Study explores the social and psychological consequences of putting people in groups of unequal power. It examines when people accept inequality and when they challenge it. These findings have changed our basic understanding of how groups and power work. In this program, Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher tell the story of the largest field study in social psychology for over 30 years, using original illustrative film from the BBC series. As well as documenting their study, Haslam and Reicher look at social identity and its implications, the ethics of the study, their sources of data, and comparisons with the Stanford Prison Study.
General Note
Originally released by Video Education Australasia, 2009.
Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on January 19, 2017.
Content Note
The BBC Prison Study: Introduction --(1:41) -- Setting Up -- (5:44) -- Early Days -- (5:37) -- Conflict and Order -- (6:26) -- Rise and Fall of the Commune -- (4:54) -- Conclusions -- (2:42) -- Credits: The BBC Prison Study -- (0:25).