What was a significant behavior change observed in prisoners during Zimbardo's study?

The significant behavior change observed in prisoners during Zimbardo's study was the rebellion marked by actions like ripping off their identification numbers. This act was a form of resistance against the dehumanizing conditions of the simulated prison environment and symbolized a rejection of the roles imposed on them.

The study illustrated how quickly individuals could adopt roles and respond to the situational dynamics of power and authority. The prisoners' rebellion indicated a notable departure from passive acceptance to active defiance, signifying the psychological impact of their environment and their struggle for individuality. This observation underlined the themes of identity and autonomy within the framework of social psychology and the influences of power structures.

Other behaviors, while present, did not capture the urgency and intensity of the rebellion against authority that was vividly represented by the act of altering or rejecting their assigned identities through the removal of identification numbers. This act of defiance contrasted with the other options, which either suggest a latent adaptation to prison life or a different form of behavior that did not reflect the critical moments of resistance sparked by the oppressive environment created during the study.