Question

Using the Stanford prison experiment as an example, deduce how power operates in a group:

A) Power is distributed equally among group members
B) Power dynamics are influenced by situational roles and social structures
C) Power is centralized in a single leader
D) Power is irrelevant in group dynamics

Answer 1

The Stanford prison experiment demonstrates how power operates in a group through the influence of situational roles and social structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Stanford prison experiment serves as an example of how power operates in a group. In the experiment, power dynamics were influenced by situational roles and social structures. Participants were randomly assigned to the role of either a prisoner or a guard, and their behaviors were shaped by the expectations and norms associated with those roles.

While power was not distributed equally among group members (option A), it was also not irrelevant in group dynamics (option D). The study showed that power was centralized in the guards, who held control and authority over the prisoners, but it also affected the behaviors of the researchers themselves, including the lead researcher.