social influence

Question 1

2 explanations for obedience

Answer 1

agent state- ppl believe they are agents of an authority figure, they lose their sense of responsibility and don’t feel responsible for their actions
legitimacy of an authority figure- ppl will obey people who they believe are higher in the social hierarchy to them

Question 2

obedience A03

Answer 2

milgram- ppts delivered shocks when they were told professor was responsible- agentic state and obedience dropped when professor was wearing normal clothes- legitimacy of authority figure
Bickman-39% of people picked up rubbish when told to by a security guard only 14% did when it was a milkman- LOA
individual differences- 35% resisted the 450 volts in milligrams study
excuses people like nazis
Sheridan and king replication but with puppies and real shocks 100% female 54% male gave shocks

Question 3

situational factors effecting obedience A01

Answer 3

Milgrams variations- 40 20-50yr old males given role of teacher and had to administer shocks whenever the learner confederate got the answer wrong shocks increased in intensity from 15-450 volts
100% to 300V, 12.5% stopped at 300, 65% to full 450V
proximity- closer the learner was the less obedience, obedience dropped when learner was in the same room and when they had to put their hand on the shock plate
Uniform- obedience dropped when the researcher was in normal clothes compared to a lab coat 20%
location- obedience dropped when location was switched to a run down office 47.6%

Question 4

situational factors effecting obedience A03

Answer 4

milgram criticised for causing distress to ppts, lacks ecological validity and mundane realism possibility aim was guessed and demand characteristics occured
hoflings nurses- 21/22 administered random drug told by a superior doctor
Bickman- changing uniform 39% security guard 14% milkman

Question 5

authoritarian personality A01

Answer 5

adorno developed f scale, higher on f scale more obedient to people they believed had a higher social status and had fixed stereotypes they had this authoritarian personality due to authoritarian parents

Question 6

authoritarian personality A03

Answer 6

milgrams- ppl who scored higher on f scale more likely to go to 450V
f scale questionnaire lacked internal validity- all qs were one sided and agreeing to all could mean you are authoritarian
left wing theory- says people who are more right wing have a psychological disorder

Question 7

resistance to social influence

Answer 7

locus of control- high internal locus of control means individual believes they are in complete control of their actions- takes full responsibility, high external LOC means ppt believes external factors are responsible for their actions eg fate and luck

social support- seeing others resist reduces pressure to obey/ conform by either disobedient role model (obedience) or small group w opposing views (conformity)

Question 8

minority influence A01

Answer 8

start off slow as more people start adopting views results in snowball effect
consistency: they need to be committed to what they believe in- not switching views
commitment: they need to be devoted even better if it involves self sacrifice, shows dedication- augmentation principle
Flexibility: willing to listen to majority and be open minded

Question 9

minority influence A03

Answer 9

Moscovici- when shown blue slides majority ppts more likely to report slides green if the confederate minority were consistent in saying its green 8.4% than inconsistent 1,25%
minority groups show commitment by suffering- gay rights black leaders