Social Influence

Question 1

What is conformity?

Answer 1

A type of social influence defined as ‘yielding to group pressures’

Question 2

Define internalisation in the context of conformity

Answer 2

Making the beliefs, values, attitude, and behavior of the group your own; the strongest type of conformity

Question 3

What is identification in conformity?

Answer 3

Temporary change of behavior and beliefs only in the presence of a group

Question 4

What does compliance mean in the context of conformity?

Answer 4

To follow others’ ideas to gain approval or avoid disapproval; public agreement but private disagreement

Question 5

What is informational social influence?

Answer 5

When someone conforms because they want to be right and look to others for information

Question 6

What is normative social influence?

Answer 6

When someone conforms to be liked and accepted by a group

Question 7

How does group size affect conformity?

Answer 7

An individual is more likely to conform in larger groups; optimal group size is at 4

Question 8

What is the effect of unanimity on conformity?

Answer 8

Conformity decreases when at least one person gives a different answer

Question 9

How does task difficulty influence conformity?

Answer 9

Conformity increases when the task is difficult, as individuals look to others for confirmation

Question 10

What was the aim of Asch’s study on conformity?

Answer 10

To investigate conformity and majority influence

Question 11

What were the conformity rates of Asch’s study?

Answer 11

36.8% conformed; 75% conformed at least once; only 1% incorrect in control trial

Question 12

What ethical issues arose from Asch’s study?

Answer 12

Deception and lack of informed consent; participants were misled about the study’s purpose

Question 13

What is Zimbardo’s study primarily about?

Answer 13

Investigating conformity to social roles in a simulated prison environment

Question 14

What were the two roles assigned in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 14

Guard and prisoner

Question 15

What did Zimbardo’s findings indicate about social roles?

Answer 15

Participants quickly internalized their roles, leading to aggressive guard behavior and submissive prisoner behavior

Question 16

What are the real-life applications of Zimbardo’s research?

Answer 16

Changes in how US prisons are run to prevent harmful behaviors and institutionalization

Question 17

What limitations did Zimbardo’s study face?

Answer 17

Lacks ecological validity and population validity; findings cannot be generalized to women or other cultures

Question 18

Fill in the blank: __________ is the strongest type of conformity.

Answer 18

Internalisation

Question 19

True or False: Compliance is the strongest type of conformity.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

What did Lucas et al. find in relation to task difficulty and conformity?

Answer 20

Conformity increased with more difficult questions when individuals rated their own ability unfavorably

Question 21

What is the significance of debriefing in psychological studies?

Answer 21

It addresses ethical issues related to deception and informs participants about the study

Question 22

What is a significant criticism of the population used in Asch’s study?

Answer 22

It consisted only of American male undergraduates, leading to gender bias

Question 23

What ethical issue arises from the lack of fully informed consent in the study?

Answer 23

Deception was required to avoid demand characteristics and participant reactivity.

Zimbardo did not know what would happen, which complicates the justification for breaching ethical guidelines.

Question 24

What psychological harm did participants experience in the Asch’s study?

Answer 24

Participants were not protected from stress, anxiety, emotional distress, and embarrassment.

One prisoner was released due to excessive distress, while others showed signs of psychological disturbance.

Question 25

Define the agentic state.

Answer 25

A state where a person believes that someone else will take responsibility for their own actions.

Question 26

What is an Agentic Shift?

Answer 26

The transition from an autonomous state to an agentic state, where a person believes they are not responsible for their actions.

Question 27

What influences the legitimacy of authority?

Answer 27

The credibility of the authority figure, perceived moral goodness, and legal legitimacy.

Question 28

In Milgram’s study, why did participants view the experimenter as a legitimate authority?

Answer 28

The experimenter was seen as a scientist and wore a lab coat, thus knowledgeable and responsible.

Question 29

What are 3 situational factors affect obedience?

Answer 29

* Uniform of the authority figure * Location or surroundings * Proximity to the authority figure

Question 30

How does wearing a uniform impact obedience levels?

Answer 30

A person is more likely to obey someone in a uniform due to perceived higher status and legitimacy.

Question 31

What effect did the location of the study have on obedience?

Answer 31

Obedience was higher at Yale university compared to a rundown office, due to increased trust in researchers.

Question 32

How does proximity to the authority figure influence obedience?

Answer 32

Closer proximity increases pressure to obey and decreases pressure to resist.

Question 33

What percentage of obedience was observed when the experimenter was in the same room as the participant compared to in different rooms?

Answer 33

62.5% obedience : 20.5% obedience

Question 34

True or False: Many participants in Milgram's study believed the electric shocks were real.

Answer 34

True.

Question 35

What real-life example is used to illustrate agentic state theory?

Answer 35

Nazi Germany in WW2

Question 36

What concern is raised about Milgram’s variations regarding validity?

Answer 36

They may not have measured what they intended to measure, influenced by demand characteristics.

Question 37

What was the aim of Milgram's study?

Answer 37

To observe whether people would obey a figure of authority when told to harm another person.

Question 38

What roles were assigned to participants in Milgram's study?

Answer 38

One participant was assigned the role of 'teacher' and a confederate was assigned the role of 'learner'.

Question 39

What was the range of electric shocks administered in Milgram's study?

Answer 39

Electric shocks ranged from 300V to 450V.

Question 40

What percentage of participants went up to 450V in Milgram's study?

Answer 40

65% went up to 450V.

Question 41

What factor increased obedience when the experimenter was present?

Answer 41

Proximity - obedience was 62.5% when the experimenter was in the same room.

Question 42

How did the location of the study affect obedience?

Answer 42

Participants obeyed more when the study was conducted at a prestigious university.

Question 43

What was one strength of Milgram's study regarding participant debriefing?

Answer 43

Participants were thoroughly and carefully debriefed on the real aims of the study.

Question 44

What was discovered about obedience in the context of nurses in Hofling et al's study?

Answer 44

95% of nurses obeyed a doctor's orders over the phone to increase medication dosage.

Question 45

What ethical issues were raised in Milgram's study?

Answer 45

Deception, lack of informed consent, and psychological harm.

Question 46

What does the F-scale measure?

Answer 46

The authoritarian personality and susceptibility to obey.

Question 47

What did Adorno suggest about childhood influences on the authoritarian personality?

Answer 47

Personality traits and attitudes stem from childhood influences, particularly from overly harsh parents.

Question 48

What is the significance of locus of control in relation to obedience?

Answer 48

Individuals with an internal locus of control are less likely to obey than those with an external locus of control.

Question 49

How did social support affect conformity in Asch's study?

Answer 49

Conformity levels dropped when a confederate gave the correct answer.

Question 50

What was the obedience level in Milgram's study when confederates disobeyed?

Answer 50

Obedience dropped to 10%.

Question 51

What is the primary reason for resistance to obedience according to the text?

Answer 51

Social support through normative and informative social influence ## Footnote This is illustrated by Milgram's study variation where social support reduced obedience to 10%.

Question 52

What did Gamson et al's research reveal about group size and social support?

Answer 52

Larger groups provide a stronger social support system, making resistance to obedience easier ## Footnote In their study, 88% of participants resisted pressure to conform.

Question 53

What was the aim of Moscovici's study?

Answer 53

To observe how minorities can influence a majority

Question 54

What was the procedure of Moscovici's study?

Answer 54

Participants were shown 36 blue slides and asked to identify their color; confederates consistently labeled them green ## Footnote This was done in a lab setting with both a control group and experimental group.

Question 55

What was the finding regarding consistency in Moscovici's study?

Answer 55

When confederates were consistent, 8% of participants reported the slides as green; when inconsistent, only 1% did ## Footnote This highlights the importance of consistency for minority influence.

Question 56

How does commitment influence the majority's perception of the minority?

Answer 56

A committed minority suggests validity in their views, encouraging the majority to explore their standpoint.

Question 57

What is the impact of flexibility on minority influence?

Answer 57

Being flexible makes the minority appear reasonable and cooperative, increasing their appeal to the majority.

Question 58

What are the three key techniques for minority influence discussed?

Answer 58

* Consistency * Commitment * Flexibility

Question 59

What is the snowball effect in the context of social change?

Answer 59

When a minority successfully influences the majority, leading to widespread acceptance of a new idea over time.