The difference in behavior between the "sadistic" guards and the "criminal" prisoners in the Zimbardo prison study is best attributed to

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The behavior of both the guards and prisoners can be attributed to the roles they were assigned in the experiment, rather than their personal histories or personalities. The guards were given positions of authority and granted significant power over the prisoners, which led them to act in a sadistic manner. The prisoners, on the other hand, were stripped of their autonomy and forced into a submissive role, which caused them to act out in ways that were consistent with criminal behavior.

The Difference in Behavior Between the "Sadistic" Guards and the "Criminal