Psych for evie - Things about the topics - 23 paper specific Flashcards
(24 cards)
Aims (Sherif)
-To study normal groups and observe the natural and spontaneous development of group organisation, attitudes and group norms.
-This study also tested “Realistic conflict theory”
IV (Sherif)
-Either working together towards common goals, or working against each other in competition for scarce resources.
DV (Sherif)
-Observation of natural and spontaneous development
Participants (Sherif)
-22 boys aged 11-12
-Healthy, socially well adjusted, above average intelligence and from stable, white, protestant, middle-class homes.
-None of them knew each other
-Random allocation into groups
Research design (Sherif)
Field experiment
Procedure (Sherif)
- Researchers set up a summer holiday camp at Robbers Cave in Oklahoma. The boys didn’t know they were in an experiment (guarantees ecological validity).
- The groups were kept seperate from each other and played activities with the goal of helping group bonding and the creation of identity. They chose group names: the Eagles and the Rattlers.
- Researchers then introduced conflict through games. Situations were also created so that one group benefitted at the expense of the other. Eg. one group was delayed getting to a picnic and when they arrived the other group had eaten their food.
Advantages (Sherif)
-Not artificial, high ecological validity.
-Rese
Outcomes (Sherif)
-Ethical considerations related to research in the socio-cultural approach
-Social identity theory
Limitations (Sherif)
-Researchers couldn’t control extraneous variables.
-Questionable measurement of the dependent variable. Use of self-reports may mean that results could be due to demand characteristics.
-Use of deception
-Participants weren’t protected from psychological and physical harm. There were symptoms of anxiety (bedwetting, running away and homesickness)
-Over-simplified theory of the origins of ethnic/national/regional conflict.
-Difficult to generalise findings- 12 year olds from a single culture.
-Sampling bias
Who created the Agency Theory of Obedience?
Milgram
Define the term “obedience”.
Obedience is a form of social influence when an individual follows the direct orders of someone else, who is usually an authority figure. It must involve a hierarchy of power/status.
Summarise the key concepts of the Agency Theory.
Milgram believed that we are socialised into the agentic state from a young age through teachers, parents, doctors, etc. so we act as agents following social rules. The theory states that obedience is necessary to maintain the stability of human society and allow it to run smoothly.
Define the “autonomous state”.
Autonomous state is when we are free thinking and able to make our own decisions while being fully responsible for them.
Define the “agentic state”.
Agentic state is when we give up our free will to follow the rules of others with authority; we work to benefit society regardless of our own wishes.
What is the “Agentic Shift” and why do we go through it?
Agentic shift is the movement from being in the autonomous to the agentic state. We experience this when the orders are given from a legitimate authority who will accept responsibility for what happens
What is an social impact theory and is it better? How?
Social Impact Theory explains obedience better because it does takes into account situational factors e.g. the strength of the authority figure and explains why we do and don’t obey, not just which processes we go through. Agency Theory in comparison has been criticised for being reductionist as it doesn’t focus on the authority figure much - just the person receiving the orders.
Define the term “Moral Strain”.
Moral strain is when the orders given by an authority figure conflict with the individual’s views, beliefs, and moral conduct.
How do the agentic state and moral strain link?
The theory states that moving into the agentic state is an escape from moral strain as the individual no longer has to feel responsible for the consequences.
How does Milgram’s results conflict with moral strain?
This theory states that going into the agentic state should allow the individual to escape moral strain as they transfer responsibility. But the 65% of participants in Milgram’s study who obeyed and went to 450v were the only ones to show signs of moral strain e.g. nervous trembling, sweating and 3 had uncontrollable seizures.
what is Reconstructive memory
The idea that we alter information we have stored when we recall it, based on prior expectations/ knowledge.
What is cognitive psychology?
looks at effect of how we process information from 5 senses and how that affects behaviour. input > computer (brain) > output
define memory
the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved
Who developed the reconstructive memory model and when?
Bartlett (1932)
