Important Psychological Experiments and Studies in the Syllabus

1. Stanford Prison Experiment:
The Stanford Prison Experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971 is a notable study in social psychology. It aimed to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power and authority in a simulated prison environment. The experiment demonstrated the power of situational factors in influencing individual behavior and the potential for abuse of power.

2. Milgram Experiment:
The Milgram Experiment conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s examined obedience to authority figures. Participants were instructed to administer electric shocks to a learner whenever they answered questions incorrectly. The study revealed the extent to which individuals would obey authority, even if it meant inflicting harm on others, highlighting the power of situational factors in influencing behavior.

3. Asch Conformity Experiment:
Solomon Asch's Conformity Experiment conducted in the 1950s studied the influence of social pressure on conformity. Participants were asked to provide answers to simple perceptual tasks in the presence of a group of confederates giving incorrect answers. The study demonstrated the tendency of individuals to conform to group norms, even when they knew the group was wrong.

4. Little Albert Experiment:
The Little Albert Experiment conducted by John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in 1920 aimed to demonstrate classical conditioning in a human subject. They conditioned a young child, known as Little Albert, to fear a white rat by pairing it with a loud noise. The study illustrated how fears and phobias can be learned through classical conditioning.

5. Loftus and Palmer Study:
Elizabeth Loftus and John Palmer's study in 1974 explored the influence of leading questions on memory recall. Participants were shown a video of a car accident and were later asked questions about the incident. The study revealed that the wording of questions could influence participants' memory recall, highlighting the malleability of memory.

6. Harlow's Monkey Experiment:
Harry Harlow's study in the 1950s examined the importance of contact comfort in infant attachment. He separated infant monkeys from their mothers and provided them with two surrogate mothers: one made of wire with a milk bottle and one covered in soft cloth. The experiment demonstrated that the monkeys preferred the cloth mother, emphasizing the significance of physical touch and comfort in attachment.

7. Bobo Doll Experiment:
Albert Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment in 1961 investigated the effects of observational learning and aggression. Children observed an adult model behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll. The study showed that children who witnessed the aggressive behavior were more likely to imitate it, suggesting that aggression can be learned through observational processes.

These experiments and studies are important to understand key concepts, theories, and the ethical considerations involved in psychological research. By studying them in detail, candidates can gain a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, social influence, memory processes, attachment, and learning theories.