Social Infleunce Flashcards

Question

What explanation of social influences does Asch’s study + variations link to

Answer 1

Original study- ISI and NSI Group size- NSI Unanimity- ISI Task difficulty- ISI

Answer 2

Perrin and Spencer (1980) repeated Asch’s orginal study 1 out of 396 Uk engineering students conformed, possibly due to finding these tasks easier because of their line of study. It shows that Asch’s study lacks temporal vadility and people are possibly less conformist today People were more likely to conform to establish social norms at the time of Asch’s study. Idea of MyCarthyism (people prosecuted for going against majority)

Answer 3

Demand characteristics- artificial task may lead to ptps attempting to find outcome which the experimenter wants. Trivial- simple/ unimportant task which causes pops to have no motivation to get correct thus leading to conformity Fiske (2014) ‘Asch” groups were not very groupy”- all confederates expect from ptp in original study. Furthermore, other ptps may be strangers. Not applicable to real life scenarios where people have stronger bonds. Cannot be generalised (lacks ecological validity) does not apply to a real life setting

Answer 4

In the 1970’ it was suggested that women would be more conformist, possibly because they are more concerned with social relationships. Eagly and Carli (1981) re-analsyed the data from the previous studies (meta-analysis): -sex differences were inconsistent -Clearest difference between men and women- group pressure from an audience -Eagly (1987) argued that different social roles explains the difference in conformity: -Women are more concerned with group harmony Assertiveness and independence are valued male attributes

Answer 5

The experiment may have been thought of to be deceptive and might have been embarrassed when they found out the true nature of the study However, this can be counteracted by the cost benefit analysis as the real participant had nothing to gain from choosing the majorative answer (as it was just an experiment) thus should of picked their own individual choice.

Answer 6

Unanimity: One confederate always gave the correct answer throughout. In this variation the rate of conformity dropped to 5%. In another variation conformity still dropped significantly, but this time to 9%. This shows if the group’s unanimous position is broken then conformity is reduced.

Answer 7

In Asch’s original study, the correct answer was always obvious. However, in this variation he made the task more difficult by making the difference between the line lengths significantly smaller. As a result conformity increased. This is more likely due to ISI , as individuals look to another for guidance in difficult situations.

Answer 8

Individualistic cultures ( Uk and US) is where personal goals take preference. More concern about self, than others. Social behaviour in collective cultures (China) is determined by goals with the collective rather than seperate from it.Found that conformity rates are higher (Bond and Smith, 1996)

Answer 9

McCarthyism is the political action of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

Answer 10

Around the 1950’s

Answer 11

Controlled observation in a mock prison 15 male participants who responded to an advert. They were randomly assigned into two groups- five were guards and 10 were prisoners. They had daily test to measure levels of depression, compliance with rules, and stress. The prisoners knew that one of them , chosen at random, would become a guard within three days. An independent ethics committee had the power to stop the experiment at any time in order to protect the participants.

Answer 12

Guards failed to form a united group and identify with their role. They didn’t exercise their power and said they felt uncomfortable of the inequality. In the first three days, the prisoners tried to act in a way that would get them promoted to guard status After one was promoted, they became stronger due to chances of promotion. The unequal system collapsed due to unwillingness of guards aside strength of prisoners. On day six the prisoner rebelled and participant lived in democracy until it collapsed shortly due to tension in the group. Some former prisoners then wanted to set up a strict regime with them as leader The study was abandoned early as participant showed signs of extreme stress

Answer 13

The participant did not fit into their expected social roles, suggesting that these roles are flexible

Answer 14

Prisoners were a strong group the guards were weak The guards were not as empowered as the guards in Zimbardo’s group who were actively encouraged to maintain order Elements of the study were considered to be staged as the study was made for TV Artificial situation, the results cannot be generalised to real life The ethics of the study were good-the participants were not deceived they were able to give informed consent Participants protected by ethics committee Participants were debriefed and offered counseling afterwards

Answer 15

Police brutality throughout America in 1960 Zimbardo wanted to find if prisoner guards behave brutally because they have sadistic personalities, or is it the situation that creates such behavior.

Answer 16

25 male volunteers Study into ‘prison life’ Healthy middle class men Randomly allocated to ‘prisoners’ or ‘guards’ Local police recruited Blindfolded when taken into the prison , arrested at home, stripped and sprayed with disinfectant, Stanford University, California Inmates called by numbers and are supervised at all times] Given shifts to work Lined up to be counted The guards wore khaki shirt and trousers, dark glasses and carried wooden batons

Answer 17

Experiment started slowly but guards soon changed their behaviour.Their behaviour became a threat to the prisoner pyschological and physical health The study was stopped after 6 days instead of 14 Guards employed ‘divide and rule; tactics by playing the prisoners off against each other

Answer 18

CRITICS: Didn’t give informed consent- didn’t point out some of the impacts from the experiment Humiliated inmates (arrested, blindfolded, stripped, deloused and verbally mistreated) Ends do not justify the means (Savin, 1973) RESPONSE: Spoke to participants longitudinal care The experiment just made people uneasy

Answer 19

Prisoners become subdued, depressed and anxious One prisoner had to be released after one day as he showed symtpons of psychological disturbance Two more were released on the fourth day One prisoner went on hunger strike - this resulted in guards force feeding him and putting him in the ‘hole’ This prisoner was shunned by the other prisoners (divide and rule tactics form guards) The guards identified with their role the most-becoming brutal and aggressive and appearing to enjoy their power Only stopped after Maslash claimed they were being cruel

Answer 20

Zimbardo and his colleagues had some control over variables. Seen in his selection of participants Emtionally stable individuals were chosen and randomly assigned to the roles of guards and prisoners. Behavior must have been due to the pressure of the situation as they were randomly assigned Increase the internal vadility of the study- different parts of the test gave consistent results,

Answer 21

• Banuazizi and Mohavedi (1975) argued that participants were merely play-acting rather than genuinely conforming to a role. - Based on stereotypes - One of the guards claimed he based his role on a brutal character in the film ‘Cool Hand Luke’ - Prisoners rioted because they thought that’s what real prisoners did

Answer 22

quantitative results gathered during the procedure showed that 90% of the prisoner’s conversations were about prison life prisoners 416 expressed the view that it was a real prison, run by psychologists, not the government

Answer 23

Fromm (1973) accused Zimbardo of exaggerting the power of personality factors: Only about a third of the guards behaved in a brutal manner Another third were keen on applying rules fairly and the rest actively tried to help and support the prisoners The conclusion drawn shows that participants were conforming to social roles, could be over-stated The guards were able to excercise right or wrong choices, despite the situational pressure to conform to a role

Answer 24

Reicher and Haslam BBC replication of SPE (2006) : Findings showed the prisoners took control of the mock prison and subjected the guards to a campaign of harrasment and disobedience Social identity theory (Tajifel 1981) : guards failed to develop a shared social identity as a cohesive group but the prisoner did Prisoners actively identified themselves as a member of a social group that refused to accept the limits of their assigned roles

Answer 25

-From 2003-2004, the US Army Military police personnel commmited a series of human rights violations against Iraqui prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad Prisoners were tortured, physically and sexually abused, routinely humiliated and some were murdered.

Answer 26

Obedience is a type of social influence which causes a person to act in a response to an order given by another person. The person who gives the order is usually a figure of authority, who has the power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming.

Answer 27

Milgram (Obedience of authority) 1963

Answer 28

Milgram conducted a number of laboratory experiments to test factors thought to affect obedience. This condition tested whether people would obey orders to shock someone in a separate room. Took place in Yale university. 40 male participants , responded to a newspaper ad seeking volunteers for a study on ‘learning and memory’. They received payment for attending. The experimenter wore a grey technicians coat. Each participant was introduced to a confederate. They drew fake lots to see who would be ‘teacher’ or ‘leaner’. This was rigged. The participant witnessed the confederate being strapped to the chair and attached to the shock generator. The switch ranged from 15-450 volts. The participants taught the learn word-pairs over an intercom, If they answered incorrectly they would receive an increasing level of shock. The participant thought this was real After 300v the learner pounded on the wall;; and made no further response. If the participants hesitated the experimenter would forced them to continue. Debriefing included an interview , questionnaires and being reunited with the ‘learner’

Answer 29

26 participants (65%) administered 450v and none stopped before administering 300v Most of the participants showed obvious signs of stress like sweating, groaning and trembling

Answer 30

Ordinary people obey orders to hurt someone else, even if it means acting against their conscience. It is not necessarily evil people who commit evil crimes but ordinary people who are just obeying orders Crimes against humanity may be the outcome of situational rather than dispositional factors An individual capacity for making independent decisions is suspended under certain situational constraints- namely, being given an order by an authority figure.

Answer 31

29 staff members of the hospital volunteered to be ‘patients’ and were held in his ward. 22 staff members were also involved but they just carried out their normal roles Patients started behaving like real patients of the hospital. Conforming to the roles assigned to them. They Showed expression and withdrawal and tried to escape Afterwards they stated that they felt frustarted, anxious and despairing . They lost their identity didn’t feel like they were treated as people

Answer 32

Nazi extermination policy towards Jews began in 1941 when special mobile killing units began lining up and shooting Jews in mass graves (Nazis killed 5-6 million Jews) My Lai massacre, Vietnam 1968- 500 villagers killed by US troops Khmer Rouge Cambodia 1975- Khmer Rouge killed 1-2 million people Rwandan genocide, 1994- Hutus killed 500,000 people Abu Graib prison abuses, 2004 - American soldiers Iraqi prisoners

Answer 33

• Orne and Holland (1968) argued that participants behaved the way they did because they did not really believe in the set up • Perry (2013) listened to tapes of Milgram’s participants and reported that many of them expressed their doubts about the shocks Realism refuted by psychologists. Experimenter was cool and distant when learner cries out in pain. Therefore, participants thought no pain was inflicted and administers shocks. -Therefore it lacked internal validity. However, Sheridan and King (1972) support the realism of Milgram’s study with their own findings. They asked ppts to give electric shocks to a puppy. Shocks were real, participants could see and hear the puppy. (54% men max shock // 100% women max shock)

Answer 34

In further support, there doesn’t appear to be any historical bias with Milgram’s studies. Supporting replication (The Game of Death, 2010) ‘La zone Xtreme’ - 80% ppts delivered the maximum shock of 460 volts to an unconscious man

Answer 35

• Central feature: relationship between authority figure and participant - Hofling et al., (1966) studied nurses on a hospital ward and found that levels of obedience to unjustified demands by doctors were very high- 21 out of 22 obeyed Therefore Milgram’s experiment has a high external validity

Answer 36

• The procedure involved a naturalistic field experiment involving 22 (real) night nurses. Dr. Smith (a stooge) phones the nurses at hospital (on 22 separate occasions) and asks them to check to see if they have the drug astroten. • When the nurse checks, she can see that the maximum dosage is supposed to be 10mg. When they reported to the ‘Doctor’, they were told to administer 20mg of the drug to a patient called ‘Mr. Jones’. Dr. Smith was in a desperate hurry and he would sign the authorisation form when he came to see Mr. Jones later on. If drugs were administered three hospital rules would have been broken: • 1. They are not allowed to accept instructions over the phone. • 2. The dose was double the maximum limit stated on the box. • 3. The medicine itself is unauthorised, i.e. not on the ward stock list.

Answer 37

• Nurses were asked to administer Valium (3x the dose), a drug that the nurses should have been familiar with. • They also gave the doctor a name known to the nurses, and the nurses all had the chance to discuss the order with each other. • In these realistic circumstances only two out of 18 nurses obeyed the doctor’s orders

Answer 38

Cohen and Davis (1981) tell the story of a hospital doctor who wrote a prescription for one of his patients. The procedure is for a nurse to read the prescription and administer the drug in whatever form the doctor prescribes. The doctor wrote this: 'Place in R ear'. This referred to drops put into the patient's right ear. Neither the nurse nor the patient questioned what a doctor was doing prescribing ear drops to be given rectally. -Therefore Milgram’s experiment has high external validity (Cohen and Davis experiment links to obedience to an authority figure similarly to Milgram’s)

Answer 39

• Baumrind (1964) was very critical about the way Milgram deceived his participants. - They believed they were randomly allocated the roles of teacher or learner - They believed the electric shocks were real - This level of betrayal of trust could damage the reputation of other psychologists

Answer 40

The key to obedience lies in group identification Participants identified with the experimenter and identified with the science of the study: - If the obedience level fell this was due to participants identifying less with the science and more with the learner - Haslam and Reicher (2010) the first three prods did not demand obedience, they appeal for help with the science This Links with Milgram’s experiment as the experimenter who was an authoritative figure encouraged the ‘teacher’ to view the ‘learner’ as an out-group. This encourages the ‘teacher’ (participant) to carry out harmful action and shock the ‘learner’ (confederate). Through the experimenters shift of responsibility, authoritative standpoint and the reduction in personal accountability of the ppt. The ppt was obedient.

Answer 41

• This refers to the physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to. • Also refers to the physical closeness of the ‘teacher’ to the learner (victim)

Answer 42

65%- original (teacher and learner in adjoining rooms) 40%-teacher and learner in the same room

Answer 43

• One condition required the ‘teacher’ to force the ‘learner’s hand onto an electroshock plate when he refused to answer a question – touch proximity - In this condition the obedience rate dropped to 30% • In another condition, the experimenter left the room and gave the instructions to the teacher by telephone – remote proximity - In this condition the obedience rate dropped to 20.5% -The ptps in this condition also frequently pretended to give shocks or gave much weaker shocks than they had been ordered to give

Answer 44

• This refers to the place where an order is issued • The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location

Answer 45

Original-65% (prestigious university setting Yale) location variation- 47.5% (run-down office down town)

Answer 46

• People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority. • This indicates to the rest of us who is entitled to expect our obedience.

Answer 47

Original- 65% experimenter wore a coat Variation- 20% Role of experimenter carried out by an ordinary member of the public (confederate)

Answer 48

Bickman (1974) tested the ecological validity of Milgram’s work by conducting an experiment in a more realistic setting. • In this study, three male researchers gave direct requests to 153 randomly selected pedestrians in Brooklyn, New York. • The researchers were dressed in one of three ways: ➢guards uniform (similar to that of a police officer) ➢milkman’s uniform ➢civilian clothing (sports jacket and tie) The pedestrians were given random instruction: ‘pick up this bag for me’ , ‘you have to stand on this side of the pole’ , ‘can you litter for me’.

Answer 49

Bickman observed that 80% of participants obeyed the researcher who was dressed to look like a police officer, whereas 40% of those approached by the researcher wearing civilian clothing or the milkman’s uniform obeyed the request.

Answer 50

Bushman (1988) carried out a study where a female researcher dressed either in a ‘police-style’ uniform, as a business executive or as a beggar, stopped people in the street and told them to give change to a male researcher for an expired meter.

Answer 51

When she was in uniform 72% of the people obeyed, whereas obedience rates were much lower when she was dressed as a business executive (48%) or as a beggar (52%) When interviewed afterwards, people claimed they had obeyed the woman in uniform because she appeared to have authority

Answer 52

The control variables used in Milgram’s study means that it is possible for others researchers to replicate (repeat) the study in the exact same way. This is important in science to make sure that findings are not just one-off chance events.

Answer 53

Both Milgram’s original stuy, and his variations have been replicated in other cultures and have found similar results. Spanish students 90%. This suggests that Miilrgams findings are not limited to American males, but are valid across all cultures (and apply to women). This suggests a robust phenomen is being studied, However, most replication have been carried out in Western societies. As a result obedience levels may not be the same worldwide.

Answer 54

Mandel (1988)- reserve Police battalion 101 Proximity of the victim- Milgram had shown that obedience fell if it was more personal. However, this was not the same with the R.P.B 101. Proximity of authority figure- no empathy shown by R.P.B 101 despite the authority being further away Presence of allies- majority did not follow those who extricated themselves and continued to kill Jews Increasing the subordinates distrection- became more brutal more power given to the R.P.B 101. However, still killed Jews despite having more authority. Deep seated hatred for the Jews rather than a group of men reluctantly ‘obeying orders;’.

Answer 55

Some people considered a situational perspective on the Holocaust’s offensive behaviors because it removes personal responsibility from the perpetrators. To suggest that Nazi’ executions of Jews were ‘only doing their duty by obeying orders’ implies that they were also the victim of situational pressure. This implies that anyone faced with similar situation would have behaved in the same way. It runs the risk of trivialising genocide

Answer 56

A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure, for example, as their agent. This frees us from the demands of our conscience and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure.

Answer 57

An explanation for obedience which suggests that we are more likely to obey people who perceive to have authority over us. This authority is justified by the individual’s position of power within a social hierarchy.

Answer 58

Means to be independent or free Free to behave in accordance to their own principles and therefore feels a sense of responsibility for their own actions.

Answer 59

A persons can change from being in the autonomous state where they see themselves acting on their own. However, there can be an agentic shift from autonomy to ‘agency; Where they see themselves as an agent for carrying out another person’s wishes (agentic state)

Answer 60

Reluctance to disrupt the experiment- obligation Pressure of the surroundings- legitimate authority Insistence of the authority figure Social etiquette regulates our behavior

Answer 61

Hierarchical systems in society-agreed by society Granted power to punish others Give up independence and hand control of our behavior to people we trust

Answer 62

Perceiving someone to be in a position of social control Shared expectation to have a leader Their power stems from their perceived position in a social situation During MIlgram’s experiment people entered the laboratory with the expectation someone will be in charge

Answer 63

Once they move in to the agentic state worrying about their own image is no longer as relevant. Their duty is seen to take priority as they are obedient to authority. • They see the action as no longer being their responsibility or reflections of their own self-image.

Answer 64

Americans soldiers killed 500 villagers Lt William Calley ordered them to do this He accepted no guilt and blamed it on his commanding officer

Answer 65

Blass and Schmitt (2001) Students who were shown a video of Milgram’s experiment, blamed the experimenter, rather than the teacher Responsibility is due to legitimate authority The experimenter was thought to be an “Expert scientist”

Answer 66

Milgram claimed people shift between the autonomous and agentic state Evidence against this: Doctors in the concentration camps in Aushwitz- carried out vile and lethal experiments on victims Mandel (1988): German Reserve Police Battalion 101- no direct orders (however still massacred Jews) Carrying out acts of evil over an extended period of time can change the way people think and feel

Answer 67

Kilman and Mann- (1974)- replication of Milgram’s study -Australia- 16% (50 participants) Mantell (1971) -Germany- 85% In some cultures authority is more likely to be accepted as legitmate authority and entitled to demand obedience Increases the validity of the explanation

Answer 68

Air Asiana (2013) “didn’t want to question the captains orders” Review of accidents - second pilot- did not want to question authroity of the lead pilot - ‘cockpit culture’ Evidence to support redefining the situation and legitmate authority

Answer 69

• The agentic shift explanation predicts that the nurses handed over responsibility to the doctor, and they should have shown levels of anxiety similarly to Milgram’s, as they understood their role in the destructive process, but they did not.

Answer 70

Obedience The bystander effect

Answer 71

The authoritarian personality experiment 1950

Answer 72

Adorno proposed that over-strict parenting results in a child being socialised to obey authority unquestioningly. The researchers were trying to find out if there are characteristics of individual which could explain the persecution of Jews and other minority groups by the Nazis. His experiment asked 2000 middle class American males to complete the F-scale (fascism scale).

Answer 73

Adorno proposed that people who received a high F-scale score were more likely to have strict parents who made the child feel constrained, which causes them to become aggressive. Adorno identified a number of personality traits, that have resulted from over-strict parenting as the authoritarian personality. This included: Obedience to authority, submissive to authority, inflexible with views and outlook of society.

Answer 74

Adorno concluded that the authoritarian personality is a dispositional explanation for obedience, due to overly-harsh and strict parenting.

Answer 75

Elms and Milgram found that participants who scored higher on the F-scale had been willing to administer bigger shocks in Milgram’s experiment. As this study tested individual personality types, it does not explain why whole societies become obedient.

Answer 76

Explanations that focus on the influences that stem from the environment in which that individuals is found

Answer 77

Explanations of individual behaviour caused by internal characteristics that reside within the individual personality e.g authoritarian personality.

Answer 78

A collection of traits/ dispositions developed from strict/rigid parenting e.g confromist/ conventional/ dogmagic and unyielding Obedient/ servile towards people of perceived higher status

Answer 79

The scale measure different aspects of personality: Conventionalism Preoccupation of power

Answer 80

Obedient to authority Submissive to authority (blind respect) Inflexible with their outlook View society to need strong and powerful leaders to enforce traditional values

Answer 81

Harsh parenting- strict discipline, expectations to be completely loyal, impossible high standards, severe criticism of perceived failings, conditional love from parents These experiences create resentment, hostility and despair in the child- who displaces these feelings onto the ‘weak’ (scapegoating）

Answer 82

Conventionalism - adhering to conventional norms and values Authoritarian aggression- aggressive feelings towards people who violate these norms Authoritarian submission- uncritical submission to legitimate authority

Answer 83

Milgram and Elms (1966): Interviewed fully obedient participants, who scored highly on the F-scale

Answer 84

Hyman and Sheatsley 1954) found that the Authoritarian Personality is more likely to exist among people who are less well educated and are of low economic status This may be the third variable But these results are inconsistent with the explanation- these people should be surely be considered the subordinate and the rebellious, not the ‘strict and oppressive’ So perhaps personality is not needed to explain obedience.

Answer 85

• Christie and Jahoda (1954)- F-scale measures tendency towards an extreme right wing ideology • Politically biased interpretation of authoritarian personality

Answer 86

Adorno used a biased sample. HE used 2000 middle class white Americans who are likely fit have an Authoritarian personality. Christie and Jahoda (1954)- F-scale measured tendency towards an extreme right wing ideology Politically biased interpretation of authoritarian personality

Answer 87

Milgram’s rigorous and controlled experiments have shown that obedience is affected by the situation In comparison to Adorno and the use of the F-scale, Milgram’s results on the situational variables are more reliable and valid

Answer 88

Measurement of authoritarianism relies on self-report (F-scale) data which may be invalid due to social desirability bias. Greenstein (1969) – the F-Scale is “a comedy of methodological errors” – ( the same row of boxes can be ticked on the same page ) and still score as HIGH authoritarian. A scale should be randomised so agree/disagree should not lead in the same direction

Answer 89

The tendency to simply ‘“agree” with everything

Answer 90

The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability is influenced by situational and dispositional factors.

Answer 91

Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives. Internals believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them. Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces.

Answer 92

Hitler Rosa Parks MLK Emmeline Pankhurst Nelson Mandela

Answer 93

• Social support enabled people to resist conformity. • The introduction of an ally caused conformity levels to drop sharply from 33% to 5.5% (Asch) Explanation: -An ally raises the possibility that there are other legitimate ways of thinking and makes them feel more confident in resisting the majority.

Answer 94

Milgram’s variation – three individuals testing the learner with 2 confederates who resisted, the result being that only 10% continued to the full shock level. Explanation: Individuals are more confident in their ability to resist when they have an ally who is willing to oppose the authority figure. Someone else’s disobedience acts as a ‘model’ to copy- frees the conscience.

Answer 95

Internal LoC: • Tend to be leaders • More likely to resist control from others • More likely to blame themselves if something goes wrong External LoC: ⚫ Good understanding or social / world issues ⚫ A critical mind ⚫ Better interpersonal skills

Answer 96

• Allen and Levine (1971) –conformity decreased when there was one dissenter in an Asch-type study. This also happened if the dissenter wore thick glasses and he said he had difficulty with his vision.

Answer 97

• The order of the response is important. • Allen and Levine – All participants went last. People were more likely to conform when the confederate with the right answer went first as they make a social commitment to the answer. • Less likely when confederate went 4th – did not have enough time to socially commit.

Answer 98

• Gamson et al., (1983) found higher levels of resistance in their study than Milgram. • Unjust authority- manager was sacked because his lifestyle was offensive to the local community. - Participants were in groups and had to produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign. - If they agreed with the manager they signed a consent form for their discussion to be shown in the ‘trial’ - 29 out of 33 (88%) rebelled. This shows social support is linked to greater resistance.

Answer 99

• Holland (1967) – Milgram’s baseline study - Measured with participants were internal or external - 37% of internals did not continue to the highest shock level, compared to 23% of externals. - Increased validity However: Twenge et al (2004) analysed data from American LOC studies over a 40 year period Over time people have become more resistant to obedience, but also more external

Answer 100

• LOC and the role in resisting obedience is exaggerated • Rotter (1982) - LoC only comes into play in novel (new) situations. This is why people has different reaction in new circumstances. They have to rely on inherent beliefs about control and influence - Has little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations where our previous experiences will always be more important

Answer 101

• Women protested against the holding of 2000 Jewish men and demanded their release. • Directly illustrates the idea that social support enables people to resist conformity. • Social support – ‘risking death together’

Answer 102

• People – more willing to maintain independence – moral rather than physical judgements. • Individual differences – educational history and religious background made a difference.

Answer 103

1969 blue slides experiment

Answer 104

This was a laboratory experiment investigating minority influence using 192 women. In groups of six at a time, participants judged the colour of 36 slides. All of the slides were blue, but the brightness of the blue varied. Two of the six participants in the group were confederates. In one condition the confederates called all 36 slides ‘green’ (consistent) and in another condition they called 24 ‘green’ and 12 ‘blue’ (inconsistent). A control group was also used which contained no confederates

Answer 105

In the control group, the participants called the slides ‘green’ 0.25% of the time. In the consistent condition, 8.4% of the time, participants adopted the minority position and called the slides ‘green’ and 32% of participants called the slides ‘green’ at least once In the inconsistent group, the participants moved to the minority position of calling the slides ‘green’ only 1.25% of the time

Answer 106

The confederates were in the minority but their views appear to have influenced the real participants. The use of the two conditions illustrated that the minority had more influence when they were consistent in calling the slides ‘green’

Answer 107

Lacked ecological validity as it was a laboratory experiment and the task were artificial The participants may have felt that judging the colour of the slides was a trivial exercise and they may have acted differently if their principles were involved The results cannot be generalised as only women participated As there was a control group, we know that the participants were actually influenced by the minority rather than being independently unsure of the colour of the slides In a similar experiment, participants were asked to write down the colour rather than saying it out loud. In this conclusion, even more people agreed with the minority, which provides more support for minority influence.

Answer 108

A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. Leads to internalisation or conversion, in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours

Answer 109

• If the minority take a consistent approach people start to consider the issue more carefully.This causes more people to take notice of the social issue and accept it - Synchronic consistency: they’re all saying the same thing - Diachronic consistency: they’ve been saying the same thing for some time. • Consistent action.

Answer 110

• When a minority adopts a committed approach to its position it may become difficult to ignore. • E.g. the green party – core principles still the same • Because joining a minority has a greater cost for the individual, they need to know the serious nature of the campaign or issue If a person continues to advocate for a cause despite facing threats or opposition, others are more likely to see them as genuinely committed (augmentation principle) rather than influenced by external rewards. Therefore, gains attention from majority and people begin to accept it.

Answer 111

• Nemeth (1986) “consistency can be interpreted negatively” • They must negate their position with the majority – have some flexibility / compromise to make changes. • Balance between consistency and flexibility

Answer 112

- Consistent and passionate about something new -Deeper processing is important in the process of conversion to a different, minority view point. - Over time people are converted- the more it happens, the faster the rate of conversion.

Answer 113

The juror who believed in the defendant's innocence was in a minority of one. He remained consistent in his belief that the defendant was innocent. He maintained his view throughout the discussion thus would have attracted the attention of the other jurors and caused them to think more deeply about the issue. He showed commitment because he held an opinion that was unpopular and may even have attracted some derision, but he continued to hold it. This would – on the augmentation principle– have persuaded some of the other jurors that he was not acting out of self-interest. He was flexible as he was flexible by acknowledging that those who considered the defendant guilty may have a point, but only on peripheral matters – above all else, the minority juror would have held firmly to his central belief in the defendant's innocence. One by one, the majority of jurors changed their belief. This is called the snowball effect.

Answer 114

The process by which the individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviors. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence

Answer 115

Thsi occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things

Answer 116

Drawing attention to an issue which opposes the majority position (segregation in America) through social prof Consistency-when minorities express their argument consistently they are taken more seriously. (Meta analysis of 97 studies [Wood et al 1994]) showed consistent minorities were particularly influential Commitment when minorities are committed to their social cause. They are taken more seriously and people begin to take their view. This is especially strengthened if risk are associated with their view put forward (augmentation principle) Flexibility- when minorities are flexible in their view people begin to take their view more seriously and their view takes more notice. This contributes to snowball effect which causes private social views to become publicly accepted

Answer 117

People have the memory that social change occurred but cannot remember how it happened Public opinion changes gradually over time and is accepted as the norm

Answer 118

Latané(1981) social force is generated by persuasion, threat , humor and embarrassment Social influence occurs when the combined effect of free factors are significant enough: 1. Strength- powerful, knowledge and consistent 2.immediacy-physical,social or psychological closeness of person providing influence 3.numbers-how many people are in the group

Answer 119

Kruglanski (2003)- The aim of terrorism is to bring about social change when direct social force is not possible. It is usually arrived out by minority groups Kruglanski eat al (2003) ‘fully committed suicide bombers motivation and quest from personal significance’ (devoted, motivated and committed)

Answer 120

Kruglanski (2003)- The aim of terrorism is to bring about social change when direct social force is not possible. It is usually arrived out by minority groups Kruglanski eat al (2003) ‘fully committed suicide bombers motivation and quest from personal significance’ (devoted, motivated and committed)

Answer 121

Four experimental studios on meat consumption ‘well-rooted, highly visible and something you’d do every day in the presence of others’ In one experiment, participants from across the USA read two statements about eating less meat. One statement (static) describe that Americans had started to eat less meat whereas the other statement (dynamic) describe how some American are changing and now eat less meat The participants in the dynamic group reported more interest in eating less meat

Answer 122

Nolan et al 2008) investigated a social influence processes led to a reduction in energy consumption in a community. Found a significant decrease in energy usage in the first group. (signs hung on doors) Knowing that people were saving energy (NSI) led to social change

Answer 123

Not at all social norms intervention have led to social change (change are slow, if at all) Nemeth (1986)- influence is indirect and delayed Indirect: majority are influenced on matters only related to the issues at hand, and not the central issue itself Delays: it takes time for changes to happen Addiction and acceptance from society from things such as smoking and drinking result in difficulties to bring success for change

Answer 124

Mackie (1987) disagreed and presented evidence that it is majority influence that creates deeper processing, if we do not share their views We like to believe other people share our view and think in the same way as us If the majority think differently, we are forced to think about their argument and reasoning

Answer 125

Male students were recruited to act as either guards or prisoners in a mock prison. They were randomly given roles of prisoner or guard, and their behaviour was observed. The prisoners were ‘arrested’ as they went about their day, taken to ‘prison’ and given uniforms and numbers. The guards also wore uniforms and mirrored glasses.

Answer 126

Initially, the guards tried to assert their authority and the prisoners resisted by sticking together. The prisoners then became more passive and obedient, while the guards invested nastier punishments. The experiment was abandoned early because some prisoners became very distressed

Answer 127

Guards and prisoners adopted their social roles quickly. Zimbardo claims this shows that our social role can influence our behaviour- seemingly, well-balanced men became unpleasant and aggressive in the role of guard.

Answer 128

This was a controlled observation, so there was good control of variables. However, because it was an artificial environment, the results cannot really be generalised to real-life situations. In terms of ethics, some participants found the experience very distressing. There is also a problem with observer bias, as Zimbardo ran the prison himself, and later admitted that he became too personally involved in the situation. The conclusion Zimbardo reached does not explain why only some of the participants acted according to their assigned roles.

Answer 129

Dispositions influences are individual characteristics that can affect a person's behavior or actions. They are also known as internal factors. Some examples of dispositional factors include: personality traits, temperament, genetics, attitudes, gender, intelligence, and spiritual beliefs.

Answer 130

The degree of confidence that the causal relationship being tested is not influenced by other factors. Internal validity is concerned with factors within the experiment's design. For example: if a study is looking at how sleep affects academic success, the researcher would need to make sure that other factors, like caffeine, don't also affect academic success

Answer 131

The degree to which the results of a study can be applied to other situations, groups, or events. External validity is concerned with factors beyond the study itself. For example: a study conducted in a laboratory setting may have high internal validity, but it may be difficult to replicate in the real world, so it may have low external validity.

Answer 132

Augmentation principle suggests people are more likely to attribute someone's behavior to their internal characteristics (such as personality or motivation) when there are external obstacles or risks that should discourage the behavior.

Social Infleunce Flashcards

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