exam practice deck Flashcards
(11 cards)
Outline and explain the findings of Milgram’s investigation into the effect of location on
obedience (4m)
measured obedience using electric shock experiment: change of venue to run-down building
obedience levels dropped by 17.5% (accept 65% at Yale vs 47.5% in run-down office)
• the status of the location changed the participant’s perception of the legitimacy of the authority of the
investigator
• higher authority at Yale than in the run-down office led to higher obedience levels/lower authority in
run-down building led to lower levels of obedience.
What do the median values in TABLE 1
suggest?
Justify your answer. [4 marks]
(Medians similar, A +4.5, B +9.5)
the clients/participants were well-matched at the start of the study as their median satisfaction ratings
were very similar (0.5 difference) before they had experienced their courses
• therapy B is a more successful course than therapy A as the final ratings increased (by 5.0) more for B
than for A
• both therapies were successful as the ratings at the end of the courses were both higher than the
matching ratings at the start of the therapies (therapy A +4.5 and therapy B +9.5)
Researchers discovered a strong positive
correlation between the number of therapy
sessions attended by people with
obsessive-compulsive disorder and their
well-being ratings.
Explain why it would not be appropriate to
conclude that therapy increases well-being
ratings. [2 marks]
• there was no manipulation of an IV, therefore cause and effect between therapy and well-being cannot
be inferred
• a third, untested variable may be causing the positive relationship between therapy and well-being.
Abi had a happy, secure childhood with parents who loved her very much. She now has two children of her own and loves them very much too. The two children make friends easily and are confident and trusting.
Referring to Abi and her family, explain what psychologists have discovered about the internal working model. [6 marks]
- attachment to primary caregiver provides child with internal working model of relationships
- abi’s secure childhood relationships would have ensured a positive internal working model
- the model acts as a mental view of relationship with primary caregiver and acts as a template for future relationships
- abi’s understanding of relationships has been carried forwards so now she has a securer attachment to her own children - Bailey research
- her children use their internal working model of the relationship wit their mother to inform other relationships - so they can make friends easily.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality of obedience to authority (4m)
OUTLINE
- collection of traits developed from strict parenting e.g conservative in views
- obedient/servile to those of a higher status
- contemptuous of the weak/lower status
EVALUATE:
- situational factors e.g location (Milgram) may have a larger impact on obedience
- Mheel argues that it excuses ‘destructive behaviour’ as a personality trait
- difficult to establish cause and effect
Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation of obedience (2m)
- when a person acts as an ‘agent’ for an authority figure
- feels no personal responsibility or guilt for their actions
- opposite to an autonomous state
Briefly evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic theory. In your answer, refer to multiple attachments
and the role of the father.
• idea of monotropy not supported by research eg Schaffer and Emerson (1964) demonstrated
importance of multiple attachments
• credit reference to stages of attachment within this context
• cross-cultural research supports forming of multiple bonds
• Bowlby underestimated the role of the father – saw father’s role as primarily economic
• outdated sexist view – importance of equal responsibility for childcare in many families/father
as primary caregiver.
Why does a dissenter encourage people to resist social influence?
- increases others ability to resist social influence
- acts as social support/role model of non-conformity
When Max was born, his mother gave up work to stay at home and look after him.
Max’s father works long hours and does not have much to do with the day-to-day care of his son. Max is now nine months old and he seems to have a very close bond with his mother.
Use learning theory to explain how Max became attached to his mother rather than to his father. (6m)
Learning theory suggests attachment develops through classical and operant conditioning. According to classical conditioning food (UCS) produces pleasure (UCR). Max’s mother was associated with the food and becomes a conditioned stimulus. According to operant conditioning food satisfied Max’s hunger and made him feel comfortable again (drive reduction). Food was therefore a primary reinforcer. His mother was associated with food and became a secondary reinforcer. Max became attached to his mother because she was a source of reward. Social learning theory could also be credited.
Explain how social influence research helps us to understand social change.
Minorities bring about social change by being consistent, flexible and non-dogmatic. Through social crypto-amnesia and the snowball effect, gradually the minority turns into the majority.
• Dictators can bring about social change through power and through the process of obedience.
Detailed descriptions of studies (eg Moscovici) are only relevant if they are used effectively to show how they have helped our understanding.
What are the implications for social change from research into social influence?
Social influence research has suggested that it is minorities and independent behaviour that brings about social change (conformity maintains the status quo). For example, a minority can challenge the beliefs and values of the majority causing them to re-think / re-evaluate their beliefs.
It is also possible to show how a single individual can bring about considerable social change and candidates could illustrate this by considering figures in history.
Research has brought about social change through the use of examples from history to illustrate the underlying theory / explanation or have offered an explanation of how social change has occurred through using research
