Social Influence

Question 1

(A03)

What is the effects of levels of education in authoritarian personality

Answer 1

Research suggests a less educated person is more authoritarian than a well educated person
Suggesting authoritarian personalities is about levels of education rather than personalities

Question 2

(A03)

What was the effect of locus of control on independent behaviour in resisting social influence

Answer 2

Interviews 2 groups of non-Jews who lived through the holocaust
They asked them if they protected the Jews from the nazis or not
The group that did rescue had internal locus of control
However interviews aren’t the best form of research
- person may lie for social desirability
- demand characteristics
-may cause psychological harm to remember
Supports locus of control as people took matters into their own hands

Question 3

(A01)

What is consistency in social influence

Answer 3

The more consistent the argument the more it will be considered
The majority doesn’t understand the minority’s viewpoint
It creates internal conflict and anxiety
To reduce the minority’s anxiety the majority examines the minority’s argument

Question 4

(A03)

What effect did Wood et al have on consistency in social influence

Answer 4

Conducted a meta analysis of 97 minority groups and influence
Whichever remained the most consistent had the most influence
However they can’t establish cause and effect as there could be another factor affecting influence

Question 5

(A01)

What were the different variations of Milgram’s experiment

Answer 5

Location
- from Yale University —> run down office block
- removes prestige, status and trust
- 65% to 48% 
Proximity 
- authoritative figure giving orders over the phone = 20%
- learner in the same room = 40%
Costume 
- removing the lab coat removes legitimacy = 20%
Situational variables
- hand on shock plate = 30% 
- learner isn’t seen or heard = 100%

Question 6

(A01)

What were the reasons for conforming in Asch’s study

Answer 6

Distortion of perception
- participants perceived the line differently
Distortion of judgement
- feelings of doubt about their judgement
Distortion of action
- many trusted their judgement but changed their answer to avoid disapproval

Question 7

(A01)

What is right winged authoritarianism in authoritarian personality

Answer 7

Altmeyer suggested there were 3 personality variables
Is a person scored high on the rwa they are more likely to over
3 personalities
- conventionalism = adhereance towards norms and values
- authoritarian submission = submissing to authoritarian personalities
- authoritarian aggression = an agressive feeling towards people who violate norms

Question 8

(A01)

What was the aim for Zimbardo’s prison experiment

Answer 8

To assess how people conform to simulated prison life

In a role playing excersise

Question 9

(A03)

What was the effect of cultural differences in obedience

Answer 9

Kilham and Mann (1974) replicated Milgram’s study in Australia
Where there is a tradition of challenging authority
Only 16% went to 450 volts
Mantell, replicated Milgram’s study in Germany
Where many people accept the authority
85% went to 450 volts

Question 10

(A01)

What was the aim of Milgram’s experiment

Answer 10

Investigated how the situational context could lead to people inflicting harm on others

Question 11

What is informative influence

Answer 11

People conform because they are uncertain about what to do in a certain situation
They look at others for guidance
Leads to internalisation

Question 12

(A03)

What evidence did Blass and Schmitt provide for the agentic state

Answer 12

They showed people a video of Milgram’s study without them knowing what the experiment was about
They asked who was responsible for inflicting harm on the learner
They blamed the experimenter not the teacher

Question 13

(A01)

What is legitimacy of authority

Answer 13

Social hierarchies are accepted in day to day life
We accept that some people can punish others
Destructive authority = abusing their power of authority

Question 14

(A01)

What was the effect of the variation of Asch’s study when changing the unanimity of the group

Answer 14

Participants joined by another real participant or unaffected confederate
- conformity = 32% -> 5.5%
Dissenter gave a different incorrect answer
- conformity = 32% -> 9%
Asch concluded ; breaking the general agreement of the group is important in reducing conformity

Question 15

(A01)

What is flexibility in social influence

Answer 15

The minority must show leeway
They can’t force their ideas as they are powerless
They negotiate though flexibility
Being too rigid = dogmatic
Being too flexible = inconsistent or weak
Some flexibility is better than none

Question 16

(A03)

What was the effect of demand characteristics in Milgram’s experiment

Answer 16

The participants may have guessed the shocks weren’t real

Question 21

(A03)

What is research support for resisting social influence

Answer 21

Replication of Asch’s study and found conformity decreased when one decametre even if they wore glasses or had bad eyesight
Despite glasses and bad sight not being the strongest support it still broker the majority
The pressure to conform is reduced by a role model giving confidence

Question 22

(A03)

What were the strengths / weaknesses of Zimbardo’s experiment

Answer 22

Validity
- true representation if they knew it was an experiment
Demand characteristics
- if the participants saw the cameras or guessed the aim of the study it could influence their behaviour making the findings inaccurate : evidence of guessing the aim = people who didn’t know what the study was were asked what the aim was and answered correctly
Gender bias
- all male participants making the results generalisable

Question 23

(A01)

What were the findings in Zimbardo’s experiment

Answer 23

The study was meant to last 2 weeks but had to end after 6 days
Guards behaviours
- brutal and sadistic 
- tormenting : forced the prisoners to clean toilets and urniated on the prisoners
- willingly worked extra shifts 
Prisoners behaviour 
- taking the rules seriously 
- after submissivly 
- sided and were dependant on the guards 
Prisoners during/ post symptoms 
- emotional disorders
- crying
- screaming 
- depression 
- angry outbursts

Question 25

What are the 2 reasons for conformity

Answer 25

Normative influence

Informative influence

Question 26

(A03)

What is the weakness of ethics in Asch’s study

Answer 26

Deception
The participants didn’t know the real purpose of the study
May feel stupid or embarrassed after

Question 27

(A03)

What were the real life applications of social influence

Answer 27

It can help understand how terrorism radicalises people to join
Consistency and persistence is evident through bombing and shooting
Also demonstrates how committed people are as they are sacrificing their lives and forcing people to take notice (suicide bombs)
However it may not always lead to change as terrorists may be seen as deviant due to their beliefs or the measures they take

Question 28

(A01)

What are weaknesses for social change

Answer 28

Difficult process for the minority to change the majority
Influence may be seen as latent (potential for the future)
May be seen as deviant by the majority

Question 29

(A01)

What was the effect of validity in Milgram’s experiment

Answer 29

Internal validity was high as the participant believed the shocks were real
External validity was high due to replications in real life
- 21/22 nurses obeyed a doctors order over the phone despite it being illegal

Question 31

What are the 3 types of conformity

Answer 31

Compliance
Internalisation
Identification

Question 32

What is normative influence

Answer 32

Instances where someone confirms to fit and gain approval or avoid disapproval
Leads to compliance

Question 33

(A03)

What is the supporting evidence for social change

Answer 33

Nolan investigated a community
Left messages on people’s doors for one week
2 types of messages
- 1. “More residents are trying to save energy”
- 2. “Save energy”
Significant decrease in energy usage from the group 1

Question 34

(A01)

What is locus of control

Answer 34

Rotter 1966
Measurements of a persons sense of control is rated on a scale of being internal or external
External = behaviour is caused by fate of luck
Internal = behaviour occurred by personal decisions and effort
Rotter = ‘Internals are more likely to resist social influence’

Question 35

(A03)

What evidence does the Mylai Massacre provide for obedience

Answer 35

Agentic state
- soldiers took orders from commanding officers
- however they raped girls which wasn’t an order
Legitimacy of authority
- the army is a structured of authority
- failure to obey leads to punishment

Question 36

(A03)

What is the effect of situational factors in authoritarian personality

Answer 36

All explanations were dispositional
Evidence suggests that situational factors are more important
E.g when milgram removes his lab coat, conformity went from 65% to 20%
Suggesting situational factors sway how obedient people are

Question 37

(A01)

What was the procedure for asch’s experiment

Answer 37

123 male American undergraduates (1956) were recruited for vision test
All but one were confederates in the study
Asked which line was the same length as the stimulus
The ‘real’ participants were always asked last or second to last
The confederates gave the same incorrect answer for 12 out of 18 trials

Question 38

(A03)

What is supporting evidence for authoritarian personality

Answer 38

Milgram’s participants were given a follow up questionnaire

Those who went to 450 volts scored high on F scale and reported negative information about their fathers

Question 39

(A01)

What was the effect of the variation of Asch’s study when changing the size of the majority

Answer 39

Majority consisted of 1 or 2 
- conformity low
Majority consisted of 3
- conformity was at 13%
Majority consisted of 3+
-conformity increased at 30%

Question 41

(A01)

What was the affect of the variation in Asch’s study when changing the difficulty of the task

Answer 41

When the difference between the lines lengths were smaller and the answer was less obvious
- level of conformity increased

Question 42

(A01)

What are the stages of social change

Answer 42

Stage 1 : drawing attention to the issue which apposes the majority (suffragettes started as a peaceful protest)
Stage 2 : role of conflict, people deeply examine the majorities position (Rosa parks)
Stage 3 : minority expresses the view consistently and overtime it is taken seriously (imprisoned suffragette went on hunger strikes)
Stage 4 : augmentation principle, is there are risks associated they are taken more seriously (run over by horse)
Stage 5 : snowball effect starts as small insignificance and becomes the majority

Question 43

(A01)

What is commitment is social influence

Answer 43

It is difficult to dismiss the minority if they are committed
The 3 c’s
- certainty, confidence, courage
- allowed the minorities to be treated seriously

Question 44

What is internalisation

Answer 44

Individuals will make the groups beliefs their own

Only to be accepted into the group

Question 44

(A03)

What was the effect of the Rosenstrame protest in resisting social influence

Answer 44

Real life application
German women protested against gestapo for holding 2000 Jewish men captive
They threatened to open fire on the women but they stayed determined which led to the release of the men
The women disobeying, gave other the confidence to disobey

Question 45

(A01)

What is situational

Answer 45

An individual is faced with environmental factors

Something affects them

Question 46

(A03)

What supporting evidence did Twenge provide for resisting social influence

Answer 46

Analysed American obedience studies for the last 40 years
Found that overtime people because more resistant but external
Predicted that people would be more resistant but internal

Question 47

What is compliance

Answer 47

Going along with the group to gain approval or avoid disapproval
And individual will publicly agree but privately disagree

Question 48

What is minority influence

Answer 48

An individual/minorities influence on a large group

Question 49

(A03)

What was the negative effect of questionnaires in authoritarian personalities

Answer 49

Many individuals lie in questionnaires

• social desirability
• rush to finish
• may not understand so answer the question incorrectly

Question 50

(A01)

What was the procedure for Zimbardo’s prison experiment

Answer 50

21 volunteered males
Play the role of prisoners and prison guards for a fortnight
Roles were selected randomly
The prisoners were = blindfolded and arrested in a police car
The rules for the guards were to use no violence
The uniform = prisoners wore a smock and the guard wore khaki uniform with whistles, cans cuffs and glasses

Question 51

(A03)

What evidence does the Jozefow massacre provide for obedience

Answer 51

German police murdered innocent civilians without any orders
They acted autonomously and given a choice
No agentic shift and the didn’t see themselves as agents of a higher authority

Question 52

(A01)

What is the agentic state

Answer 52

Milgram = ‘people operate on 2 levels’ : autonomous and agentic
Autonomous level
- behaving voluntarily
- aware of their actions
Agentic state
- people see themselves as agents of others
- they aren’t responsible for their actions
- mindlessly accept orders from someone responsible
People shift from one to another

Question 54

(A01)

What is the F scale in authoritarian personality

Answer 54

Made by Adorno, F standing for facist
The Californian F scale is a measure of authoritarian traits and tendencies
The higher the score the more authoritarian the personality
- also tended to have parents with authoritarian personalities

Question 55

(A03)

What were the negative ethical points in Milgram’s study

Answer 55

Participants were incorrectly informed about the study
Reports of psychological harm
- realisation of being capable of shocks and inflicting pain
- led to : emotional stress, stirrers, nervous laughter

Question 55

(A01)

What is social support in resisting social influence

Answer 55

The pressure to conform is less if people around you aren’t conforming
The other person acts as a model to copy, which frees one conscious
Supporting evidence
- Asch’s unanimity of the group = 32% to 5.5%
Social support breaks the unanimity and gives confidence to the rebels and empowers them to stand up to others

Question 56

(A03)

What was the strength of real world application in Asch’s study

Answer 56

Conformity in jury’s
- many jurors wouldn’t want to appear to have a different attitude/viewpoint to their fellow jurors
Tanford & Pedro 1986
- the decision of the first jurors vote determine the overall outcome at 95% of the time

Question 57

What is identification

Answer 57

Making the groups beliefs, attitudes and values the same

An individual will agree publicly and privately

Question 57

(A03)

What was the weakness of generalisability in Asch’s study

Answer 57

Gender bias all men
Education bias all undergrads
Hard to generalise the results
Small sample size

Question 57

(A01)

What is an authoritarian personality

Answer 57

Adhering to social rules and hierarchy’s

Question 59

(A01)

What were the findings/predictions for Milgram’s experiment

Answer 59

65% completed the experiment
100% went to 300v
Predictions: no one would complete it and that 2.2% went to 240 volts

Question 60

(A01)

What were the findings for Asch’s study

Answer 60

12 critical trials, 36.8% of answers were incorrect by the participants
1/4 of the participants didn’t conform
In the control trial, 1% of answers were incorrect

Question 61

(A03)

What was the weakness of validity in Asch’s study

Answer 61

Judging the length of lines is an insignificant task

Answering out loud means for pressure to not sound stupid

Question 61

(A03)

What effect did Nemeth have on flexibility in social influence

Answer 61

Groups of 3 participants and 1 confederate had to decide the level of compensation to give in a ski lift accident
When the confederate was consistent as the minority to lower the price
- it had no effect on the majority
When the confederate was flexible and compromising
- it influenced the majority to lower the price
Supporting that minorities need to be flexible

Question 61

(A01)

What is social change

Answer 61

Society adopts a new belief

And then becomes accepted as the norm

Question 62

What is majority influence

Answer 62

A groups influence on an individual/majority

Question 62

(A03)

What were the positive ethical points in Milgram’s experiment

Answer 62

debriefing was thorough and careful
in a follow up = 84.7% we’re glad and 74% felt they learned something
Opened societies eyes to obedience problems and how to reduce them

Question 62

(A01)

What is disposition

Answer 62

An individual is born with something

It is within them

Question 63

(A01)

What was the procedure for Milgram’s experiment

Answer 63

Participants told that the experiment was a test for science
40 males responding to an ad in controlled observation
3 roles : participants (shocker/teacher), confederate (shocked), experimenter
Learner = answered the questions
Teacher = sicked the learner when they answered wrong
Experimenter = watched over the experiment and encouraged to continue when participants hesitated
“Please continue” “experiment requires you to continue” “absolutely essential you go on” “you have no other choice”

Question 63

(A01)

What are the types of social norms

Answer 63

Perceived norms
- what people believe the norm is
Actual norm
- what the actual percentage it
Misperception
- the gap between