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Psychology Paper 1 > Social Influences > Flashcards

Social Influences Flashcards

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1
Q

Conformity

A

A change in a person’s behaviour or opinion as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people.

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2
Q

Who proposed the three types of conformity?

A

Kelman (1958)

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3
Q

What are the three types of conformity?

A

Compliance
Internalisation
Identification

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4
Q

Compliance

A

Going with other people’s ideas/to go along with the group to gain their approval or avoid disapproval.

• You publicly agree but privately disagree. An individual’s change of view is temporary.
• Likely to occur as a result of NSI.

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5
Q

Give an example of Compliance?

A

When friends pressure you into drinking alcohol when you don’t truly want to, and will not drink outside of such social situations.

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6
Q

Internalisation

A

Making the beliefs, values, attitude and behaviour of the group your own (the strongest type of conformity, and often occurs as a result of ISI).
An individual’s change of view is permanent.

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7
Q

Give an example of Internalisation

A

Being brought up in a religious household, and becoming religious yourself.

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8
Q

Identification

A

Short-term change of behaviour and beliefs only in the presence of a group (middle level).

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9
Q

Give an example of Identification?

A

Acting more professional and less silly when you arrive at your office to work.

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10
Q

What are the two explanations of conformity?

A

Normative social influence
Informational social influence

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11
Q

Normative social influence

A

Conforming in order to be liked / to fit in → usually leads to compliance.
Example: Conforming to avoid the embarrassment of disagreeing with the majority.

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12
Q

Informational social influence

A

Conforming to be right → leads to internalisation.

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13
Q

Evidence for ISI

A

Fein et al. asked participants to vote for a US presidential candidate after they saw others voting for somebody else.
Most changed their mind because they wanted to be ‘correct’, demonstrating ISI.

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14
Q

What is Normative Social Influence (NSI)?

A

NSI - Conforming in order to be liked / to fit in → usually leads to compliance.
Example: Conforming to avoid the embarrassment of disagreeing with the majority.

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15
Q

Give an example of NSI

A

A person starting to smoke because they are surrounded by other people who smoke.

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16
Q

Real-world application NSI & Bullying AO3 (A-A)*

A

Garandeau and Cillissen found that a boy can be manipulated by a bully into victimising another child. The boy conforms to avoid disapproval from friends.

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17
Q

Evidence showing the role of social influence: Lucas et al. (2003) Maths questions

A

• Greater conformity to wrong answers when the questions were difficult.
• Especially true for students who rated their maths ability as poor.

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18
Q

Who were the participants in Asch’s study?

A

123 male American undergraduates in groups of 6 (1 true participant, 5 confederates).

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19
Q

What were the aims of Asch’s study?

A

To investigate conformity and majority influence.

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20
Q

What was the procedure in Asch’s study?

A

Participants and confederates were presented with 4 lines; 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line.
Confederates gave incorrect answers in 12 out of 18 trials.
Real participants answered last or second to last.

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21
Q

What were the findings of Asch’s study?

A

• 36.8% conformed
• 25% never conformed
• 75% conformed at least once
• In a control group, only 1% gave incorrect answers

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22
Q

What were the factors affecting conformity in Asch’s study?

A

Size of majority, unanimity of majority, task difficulty.

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23
Q

What are the 2 differences between internalisation and compliance?

A

• Public acceptance and private rejection
• Public and private acceptance

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24
Q

Explain what is meant by normative and informational social influence.

A

NSI: Conforming to be liked → leads to compliance.
ISI: Conforming to be right → leads to internalisation.

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25
What support for NSI was provided by Asch’s study (1951)?
Participants conformed due to fear of disapproval. Supports the idea of NSI.
26
In relation to Asch’s research, explain what is meant by unanimity and task difficulty.
Unanimity: When all confederates agree → increases conformity. Task difficulty: Harder tasks → increase in conformity due to ISI.
27
Describe Asch’s study of conformity.
Participants had to match line lengths in groups with confederates giving wrong answers. 36.8% conformed; 75% at least once. Participants conformed to avoid rejection → NSI.
28
“Asch’s study is a child of its time” - Explain what is meant by this.
Conformity was higher in the 1950s due to social norms. Repeats in the 1980s showed much lower conformity.
29
Asch’s study has been criticised for being an artificial task and situation. What does this mean and why is this a limitation?
The task lacked real-world relevance and may have induced demand characteristics. Results cannot generalise to everyday situations.
30
Explain the ethical issues with Asch’s research. Do you believe the benefits of the study outweighed the cost?
Deception was used. However, mild embarrassment was considered acceptable, and participants were debriefed. The study gave useful insights into conformity.
31
Explain why Asch’s findings have limited application in the real world.
Participants were American males. Gender and cultural differences limit generalisability.
32
Explain what is meant by a social role. Use examples in your answer.
The part people play in society, like student, teacher, etc., with expected behaviours.
33
Outline the procedure, findings and conclusions of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Mock prison with participants assigned as guards/prisoners. Guards became abusive; prisoners became submissive. Study stopped after 6 days due to extreme behaviour.
34
One strength of the Stanford Prison Experiment is the level of control.
Random assignment reduced individual differences, improving internal validity.
35
Critics have argued that Zimbardo exaggerated the role of the situation - explain this point.
Not all guards acted the same – suggests dispositional factors played a role.
36
Why has it been argued that the Stanford Prison Experiment lacked realism?
Participants may have been acting based on stereotypes. However, Zimbardo claimed participants believed the prison was real.
37
Outline ethical issues with Zimbardo’s research.
Zimbardo’s dual role delayed appropriate intervention. Participants weren’t protected from harm.
38
Outline the study done by Haslam and Reicher and explain why this challenges Zimbardo’s conclusions.
In the BBC study, prisoners took over due to shared identity. Shows social roles are not automatically conformed to.
39
Outline Milgram’s research into obedience.
Participants were instructed to give fake shocks. 65% obeyed to the maximum voltage, despite stress.
40
Evaluate Milgram’s research in terms of validity.
Low internal validity (participants guessed setup). High external validity (similar obedience seen in real-world situations, e.g., Hofling’s nurses).
41
What is the social identity theory and why does it suggest that people obey?
People obey when they identify with the group/cause. In Milgram’s case, identification with science led to obedience.
42
Why is the social identity theory a limitation to Milgram’s conclusions about obedience?
Milgram said obedience was due to authority. SIT suggests it was due to identification with the researcher or the victim.
43
Outline the ethical issues with Milgram’s instructions.
Participants were deceived and lacked informed consent. Deception could lead to psychological harm.
44
Briefly outline what is meant by situational variables.
External factors influencing obedience (e.g., location, proximity, uniform).
45
Haney et al. (1973)
Started the Stanford Prison Experiment.
46
Reicher and Haslam (2006) - The BBC Study Procedure
Participants randomly assigned roles in a mock prison. Closely matched on personality traits.
47
Reicher and Haslam (2006) - How long did the study last?
8 nights.
48
Reicher and Haslam (2006) - Findings
Prisoners united and challenged authority. Guards failed to form a group identity. The power structure collapsed.
49
Situational factors in Obedience
• Proximity • Location • Uniform
50
Agentic state
A person sees themselves as an agent for carrying out another person’s wishes.
51
Legitimacy of authority
Obedience is more likely if the authority is perceived as legitimate.
52
Findings of Milgram’s study
65% gave maximum shock; no one stopped before 300V. Many showed stress.
53
What were the factors affecting conformity in Milgram’s study?
Proximity, location, uniform.
54
Dispositional explanation
Behaviour explained by personality factors, not the situation.
55
Atgis (1998)
Meta-analysis found those with external locus of control were more likely to conform.
56
Locus of control (Rotter 1966)
Refers to how much control someone believes they have over events in their life.
57
Internal locus of control (more control)
People believe they control their own behaviour.
58
External (less control)
Behaviour is due to luck or external forces.
59
Give an example of a high internal locus of control
“I won the award because I worked hard.”
60
Give an example of a low external locus of control
“I won the award because it was meant to be.”
61
Oliner and Oliner (1988)
Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust had a more internal locus of control and higher social responsibility.
62
Who were the participants of Moscovici’s study?
Randomly selected participants and confederates.
63
What was the aim of Moscovici’s study?
To observe how minorities can influence a majority.
64
What was the procedure of Moscovici’s study?
Groups viewed 36 blue slides. Confederates said “green” on 2/3 of trials. Control group had no confederates.
65
What were the findings of Moscovici’s study?
8% conformity with consistent minority. Only 1% with inconsistent minority.
66
What does Moscovici’s study demonstrate?
Consistency is key for minority influence.
67
What are the two types of consistency?
• Diachronic consistency • Synchronic consistency
68
Diachronic consistency
Group remains consistent over time.
69
Synchronic consistency
Group members agree and support each other.
70
Martin et al (2003)
Minority influence leads to more internalisation than majority influence.
71
Adorno et al. (1950)
Created the F-scale to measure authoritarian personality.
72
Middendorp and Meleon (1990) (AO3)
Less-educated people more likely to have authoritarian traits.
73
F scale
Used to measure authoritarian personality levels.
74
Right-wing authoritarianism
Includes submission to authority, aggression, and conventionalism.
75
Dispositional
Explanation focusing on personal traits rather than the situation.
76
Authoritarian personality
Strict adherence to conventional values and submission to authority.

Psychology Paper 1 (25 decks)

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