Role Theory
(Jane Elliott’s documentary A Class Divided, & Zimbardo’s Prison Simulation Research, in Haney, Banks, & Zimbardo, Naval Research Review, 9/1973)
Many folks are familiar with Jane Elliott’s films – she now has more than four available for viewing on DVD, and has been touring the world as a consultant to towns, schools, corrections facilities, and companies. Her original simulation was conducted in Riceville, Iowa, when she had her elementary school children either be empowered or disadvantaged based upon their eye color. She found that this simple exercise greatly affected their behavior, and that the changes and insights that resulted affected grades and learning, and later tendencies to be accepting of others.

Zimbardo, in a classic simulation, had college-aged students randomly assigned to be either prisoners or guards in a fake prison. This role assignment greatly affected the subsequent behaviors of all subjects. In fact, the study had to be halted prematurely when prisoners began showing severe psychological distress, and guards began behaving in ruthless, despicable ways.

We use role theory in a positive manner, noting that when people are assigned roles that are challenging, important, and respected, they tend to raise their behavior to meet the standard. Of course, students must have the training and skills necessary to fulfill the role’s requirements, so we spend time reviewing the actions students will need to do to:

• Create effective action projects,

• Get their teachers excited to get involved, and

• Show the students how to measure the success of their projects.