Social Influence: Obedience Flashcards
(15 cards)
GENERAL CONCEPTS
What is social influence?
Social influence is the process by which an individual’s attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours are modified by the presence or actions of others.
GENERAL CONCEPTS
How is obedience different from conformity?
Obedience involves following a direct order from an authority figure, whereas conformity is adjusting behaviour to align with group norms without direct orders.
GENERAL CONCEPTS
What are the three main factors influencing obedience?
*Proximity to the authority figure (closer = more obedience)
* Prestige of the authority figure (higher status = more obedience)
* Deindividuation (loss of personal identity in a group = more obedience)
MILGRAM’S (1953) EXPERIMENT
What were the results from Milgram’s Shock Experiment?
100% of participants continued to 300 volts
65% of participants continued to 450 volts (maximum shock level-which may cause death)
Proved the factors of obedience (SLD 4Ps)
MILGRAM’S (1953) EXPERIMENT
How did proximity to the authority figure affect obedience in Milgram’s study?
When the authority figure was physically closer, obedience was higher. When they were further away, obedience decreased.
MILGRAM’S (1953) EXPERIMENT
What ethical concerns were raised about Milgram’s experiment?
- No debriefing of partcipants
- Coercion occured by asking the participants to “please continue”
- The right to withdraw was not offered
- Involuntary participation as the right to withdraw was not offered
- Participants were deceived as they were told they could have any role but were only allocated teacher.
- Inaccurate reporting as participants were not told the results.
- Psychological harm occured as participants may have though they killed someone- unaware the learner was a confederate.
MILGRAM’S (1953) EXPERIMENT
What solutions have been proposed to address the ethical issues in Milgram’s study?
- Debriefing participants thoroughly afterward
- Gaining informed consent with full disclosure
- Allowing participants to withdraw freely at any time
STANDFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT
What was the aim of the Stanford Prison Experiment?
To investigate how people conform to social roles, particularly in a prison setting.
STANDFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT
What role did obedience play in the Stanford Prison Experiment?
The “guards” obeyed the perceived authority of their roles, leading to increasingly abusive behavior toward the “prisoners.”
STANDFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT
What were the ethical issues in the Stanford Prison Experiment?
- Psychological harm to participants
- Lack of informed consent (participants were unaware of how extreme it would become)
- Right to withdraw was not clearly enforced
FACTORS INFLUENCING OBEDIENCE
How does the prestige of an authority figure affect obedience?
Higher prestige (e.g., scientists, government leaders) increases obedience, as people trust or fear their authority.
FACTORS INFLUENCING OBEDIENCE
What is deindividuation, and how does it relate to obedience?
Deindividuation occurs when people lose their sense of personal identity in a group, making them more likely to obey orders without questioning them.
FACTORS INFLUENCING OBEDIENCE
Why does a larger group size sometimes increase obedience?
In larger groups, individuals feel less personally responsible and are more likely to follow orders without resistance.
APPLICATION
How can obedience be applied to understanding the Stolen Generation?
The forced removal of Indigenous children from their families was carried out by individuals obeying government orders, demonstrating the power of authority and institutionalized obedience.
APPLICATION
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using experimental design in social influence research?
Advantages:
* Control over variables allows for clear cause-and-effect conclusions.
* Replicable, meaning findings can be tested again for reliability.
Disadvantages:
* Ethical concerns, especially with deception and potential harm.
* Artificial settings may not reflect real-life obedience behavior.
