SOCIAL INFLUENCE Flashcards by Bryony Ayles

Explanations for obedience

What are the explanations for obedience?

Agentic state

Legitimacy of authority

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Explanations for obedience

What is the agentic state?

When we act as an agent of someone in authority
We find it easier to deny personal responsibility for our actions
Thus protecting our self image

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Explanations for obedience

When does the agentic shift occur?

When confronted with an authority figure

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Explanations for obedience

What is the autonomous state?

Direct OWN behaviour

Take responsibility

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Explanations for obedience

What are binding factors?

Even if they feel the actions are wrong, they are unable to stop
Stopping would lead to worse consequences

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Explanations for obedience
Strengths of the agentic state as an explanation for obedience
Research support

Milgrim

Ppts in shock experiment acted as an agent of the lab assistant who encouraged them to shock the learners

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Explanations for obedience
Strengths of the agentic state as an explanation for obedience
Real- life application

Doctors at Auschwitz

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Explanations for obedience
Limitations of the agentic state as an explanation for obedience
Culture bias

Collectivist cultures are taught to obey authority

Agentic state wouldn’t be as relevant in individualistic cultures

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Explanations for obedience
Limitations of the agentic state as an explanation for obedience
Features of science

Relies on self reporting

NOT objective, reliable or empirical

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Explanations for obedience

What is legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience?

We are more likely to obey people we perceive have authority
Authority is justified by position of power within a social hierarchy

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Explanations for obedience

What factor makes an authority figure seem legitimate?

Authority figure needs to be inside a certain institution

e.g. lab or university

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Explanations for obedience
Strengths of legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience
Research support

Milgrim
Situational variables like uniform (casual) and location (run down office) increased obedience
In both repeat tests, 48% shocked to 450v in comparison to 65% in the original tests

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Explanations for obedience
Strengths of legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience
Real- life application

Doctors at Auschwitz

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Explanations for obedience
Limitations of legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience
Culture bias

Collectivist cultures are taught to obey authority

Agentic state wouldn’t be as relevant in individualistic cultures

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Explanations for obedience

Procedure of Milgrims original shock experiment

40 male American ppts
Learners (confeds) to answer Qs about word lists to test of punishment increases learning
Teacher (ppt) told to shock incorrect answers
Increasing voltage by 15v each time
15- 450v with buttons labelled with severity of shock
Lab assistant (confed) prompted ppt

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Explanations for obedience

Findings of Milgrims original shock experiment

100% to 300v
65% to 450v
Due to agentic state

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Explanations for obedience

What were the 3 situational variables Milgrim tested?

Proximity
Uniform
Location

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for proximity
Prodedures

org. teacher and learner in different rooms

rep. teacher and learner in same room

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for proximity
Findings

Obedience decreased

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for uniform
Procedures

org. lab assistant wore grey lab coat

rep. lab assistant called out of room and replaced by replaced by someone wearing casual clothes

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for uniform
Findings

Obedience decreased

48% shocked to 450v

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for location
Procedures

org. Yale Lab Uni

rep. Run down office block

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Explanations for obedience
Original vs repeat shock tests for uniform
Findings

Obedience decreased

48% shocked to 450v

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Explanations for obedience
Strengths of situational variables as an explanation for obedience
Research support for uniform

Bush- dressed in 3 costumes and asked the public for parking money
police- 72%
businessman- 48%
begger- 52%

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Explanations for obedience Strengths of situational variables as an explanation for obedience Real- life application

Attitude towards war crimes | Less blame

Explanations for obedience Limitations of situational variables as an explanation for obedience Small sample

Org. 40 ppts | Not generalisable

Explanations for obedience Limitations of situational variables as an explanation for obedience Culture bias

American ppts | No generalisable

Explanations for obedience Limitations of situational variables as an explanation for obedience Ethics

Deception NO informed consent Psychological harm

Explanations for obedience | What is the authoritarian personality?

A distinct personality disorder characterised by strict adherence to conventional values and a belief in absolute obedience to authority

Explanations for obedience | Who created the F- scale?

Adorno

Explanations for obedience | What is the F- scale?

Relationship between personality and prejudiced beliefs

Explanations for obedience | What was the procedure of the F- scale study?

``` 2000 middle class white Americans Filled out questionnaire with either 'agree' or 'disagree' ```

Explanations for obedience | What were the findings of the F- scale study?

scored highly/ more agrees= strong people, contemptuous of the weak

Explanations for obedience | Explain the development of the authoritarian personality

Disciplined upbringing Father is harsh This is the assumed norm

Explanations for obedience | What was the authorial personality refined to?

Right- wing authoritarianism

Explanations for obedience | What 3 character traits must a person posses to have the authoritarian personality?

Conventionalism Authoritarian aggression Authoritarian submission

Explanations for obedience | What is conventionalism as a character trait of the authoritarian personality?

Adherence to conventional values and norms

Explanations for obedience | What is authoritarian aggression as a character trait of the authoritarian personality?

Aggressive feelings towards those who violate conventional norms

Explanations for obedience | What is authoritarian submission as a character trait of the authoritarian personality?

Submission to legitimate authorities

Explanations for obedience | Who conducted the study into the link between the AP and relationships with parents?

Elms and Milgrim

Explanations for obedience | What was the procedure of the study into the link between the AP and relationships with parents?

PPts from Milgrims shock experiment- 20 were obedient, 20 weren't obedient Completed F- scale questionnaire Asked about relationship with parents

Explanations for obedience | What were the findings of the study into the link between the AP and relationships with parents?

Obedient ppts= less close with parents | Supports development of AP

Explanations for obedience Limitations of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience Culture bias

American ppts May be difference between collectivist and individualistic cultures Not generalisable

Explanations for obedience Limitations of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience Gender bias

Male ppts Not generalisable Development of AP = harsh FATHER -> ignores influence of mother -> alpha bias

Explanations for obedience Limitations of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience Deterministic

disciplined upbringing + harsh father = AP

Explanations for obedience Limitations of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience F- scale statements

VERY objective, whereas humans are subjective | Not accurate measurement

Explanations for obedience Limitations of the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience Contrasting research- Milgrim

Milgrims situational variables have a bigger impact on obedience than dispositional variables like the AP

Resistance to social influence | What is the locus of control?

The sense we have about what directs events in our lives

Resistance to social influence | What is an internal LOC?

Believe that they are mostly responsible for what happens to them

Resistance to social influence | What characteristics does someone with n internal LOC possess?

Self- confident Achievement orientated Higher intelligence Less need for social approval

Resistance to social influence | What is an external LOC?

Things happen without their own control

Resistance to social influence | Which LOC would lead to resistance to social influence?

Internal LOC

Resistance to social influence Strengths of LOC as an explanation for resisting social influence Research support

Holland conducted a Milgrim- type study % that DIDN'T shock to 450v 37% were internals 23% were externals Internals have higher self- confidence and less desire for social approval

Resistance to social influence Limitations of LOC as an explanation for resisting social influence Limited application

LOC only important in NEW situations | Familiar situations rely on learning from past experiences

Resistance to social influence | What is social support as an explanation for resistance to social influence?

The presence of people who resist pressures to conform help others to do the same They act as role models to show others that resistance IS possible

Resistance to social influence Strengths of social support as an explanation for resisting social influence Research support- Asch

Presence of an ally- conformity reduced to 5.5%

Resistance to social influence Strengths of social support as an explanation for resisting social influence Research support- Allen & Levine

Ash- type study | Even if ally said they had sight issues, conformity still decreased -> social support very relevant

Resistance to social influence Limitations of social support as an explanation for resisting social influence Evaluations of supportive research studies

``` Lab study Culture bias Gender bias Individual differences Temporally relative- McCarthyism as an exp. for conformity ```

Minority influence | What is minority influence?

When someone disagrees with the majority and persuades them to change their opinion Usually leads to internalisation- public + private

Minority influence | What are the 3 behaviours needed to convert the minority to the majority?

Consistency Commitment Flexibility

Minority influence | What is consistency?

Consistency of beliefs | Increases interest from the majority and makes other rethink their views

Minority influence | What is commitment?

Extreme activities To draw attention Augmentation principle augmentation-making something bigger, more important, such as by risking their lives for it

Minority influence | What is flexibility?

Minority is slightly lenient | So they don't appear rigid or uncompromising

Minority influence | What study tested minority influence?

Moscovici- blue slide, green slide test

Minority influence | What was the aim of the blue slide, green slide test?

To test consistency vs flexibility in minority influence

Minority influence | What was the procedure of the blue slide, green slide test?

Each group contained 4 ppts and 2 confeds Shown 36 slides of different shades of blue C1- Consistency- confeds stated 'green' for all slides C2- Flexibility- confeds stated 'green' for 24 slides and 'blue' for 12 slides

Minority influence | What were the findings of the blue slide, green slide test?

C1- Consistency- 8.42% of ppts stated 'green' C2- Flexibility- 1.25% of ppts stated 'green' CONSISTENCY IS MOST EFFECTIVE

Minority influence Strengths of conversion through minority influence Research support

Moscovici- blue slide, green slide test | Showed that consistency is most effective in minority influence

Minority influence Limitations of conversion through minority influence Research support- Mosovici

Artificial tasks- lacks ecological validity Culture bias Lab study

Minority influence Limitations of conversion through minority influence Commitment Against features of science

Limited research into commitment -_ feature of science is theory testing -> not extensively done

SOCIAL INFLUENCE Flashcards

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