Social Influence- Case Studies

Question 1

Study into social pressure & conformity

Answer 1

Asch (1951)

Question 2

Asch (1951)

Answer 2

aim: investigate the extent that a majority group can influence people
procedure: line judgement task, group of confederates with 1 naïve participant, see if people conformed

75% conformed in at least one experiment/task

Question 3

Additional study into social pressure & conformity

Answer 3

Sherif (1935)

Question 4

Sherif (1935)

Answer 4

demonstrate how people conform to group norms in ambiguous situations.
Used the autokinetic effect and asked participants to see how far the light moved, both individually and in a group.
The answers often conformed to a group agreement as the situation was ambiguous.

Question 5

Variations of Asch

Answer 5

Group size
Unanimity of the majority
Difficulty of task

Question 6

Study into conformity & social roles

Answer 6

Zimbardo et al (1974)

Question 7

Zimbardo et al (1974)

Answer 7

wanted to see if people would conform to new social roles.
All male students (psychologically screened) were sent into a prison and had the role of guard or prisoner.
Conditions were like prison.
Meant to be 14 days, called off after 6 days.
Conformity did occur and meant people were consumed by the role.

Question 8

Real life examples for the danger of obedience

Answer 8

The My Lai Massacre
Abu Ghraib Prison

Question 9

Study into obedience and authority

Answer 9

Milgram (1963)

Question 10

Milgram (1963)

Answer 10

Wanted to see how far people would go to obey authority. Advertised for males to take part at Yale Uni.
In the experiment was a participant (naïve), and two confederates. One confed was the experimenter while the other drew lots with ppt to see who was learner and teacher- ppt was always teacher.
Learner attached to shock machine and asked to remember word pairs- if wrong they were shocked.
Shocks ranged from 15v to 450v.
Were told a prod if they refused.
All ppts shocked to 300v and 65% to 450v

Question 11

Study used to support Milgram

Answer 11

Hofling et al (1966)

Question 12

Hofling et al (1966)

Answer 12

Similar to Milgram- just a real life setting
Rang hospitals posing to be Dr Smith asking to give a patient double the dose required of an unfamiliar medicine.
21/22 nurses did so.

Question 13

Study into the Authoritarian Personality

Answer 13

Adorno

Question 14

Adorno

Answer 14

Wanted to investigate causes of obedient behaviour.
2000 middle class Americans were involved- F-scale used to test them.
Involved statements such as ‘Rules are there for people to follow, not change’. Higher on the F-Scale meant stronger opinions and distinctive views. This is characterised as the Authoritarian Personality

Question 15

Who looked into Locus of Control?

Answer 15

Rotter (1966)

Question 16

Rotter

Answer 16

A questionnaire measuring how much you believe the things that happen to you are your fault. It then places you on a scale- high internal to low internal.

Question 17

Blass (1991)

Answer 17

Meta-analysis of a number of variations of Milgram’s study and found ppts with internal LOC were less likely to shock

Question 18

Allen & Levine (1971)

Answer 18

Looked into social support and found that conformity decreased when there was 1 dissenter in an Asch style study.

Question 19

Who looks into minority influence?

Answer 19

Moscovivi (1969)

Question 20

Moscovici (1969)

Answer 20

Calling a blue slide green. All female ppts. 2 groups- 1 with consistent confeds and 1 with non-consistent confeds. Shows minorities can change the opinion of a majority.

Question 21

Clark (1994)

Answer 21

College students asked to role play as jurors in a court case.