1. Social EQs Flashcards
It is Ani’s first day in a new job and he spends a lot of time watching to see what his colleagues are doing, so that he will fit in with them and be liked. Explain Ani’s behaviour in terms of compliance. (2 marks)
Compliance refers to behaviour that involves going along with the majority, even if privately their views are not accepted. (1) He wants to fit in and be liked, so will change his behaviour to be like the others but does not change his beliefs. (1)
Explain what is meant by internalisation. (3 marks)
Internalisation is where you accept the group’s beliefs as yours (1). You change both your public and private views (1) and it is a permanent change as you continue to think this even when not in the group (1).
Explain what is meant by compliance. (3 marks)
Compliance is where you go along with the group to fit in (1) even if you don’t really believe their view point (1) for example, in Asch’s study, many of the naïve participants went along with the wrong answer so as not to look stupid (1).
A group of students has to decide what to do with the money left over in their school fund. Most of them want to give the money to a local charity. However, two students, Lisa and Sean, want to buy a pool table for the common room.
Briefly explain how two factors might affect whether or not Lisa and Sean will conform to the rest of the group. (4 marks)
If the group size (1) is large / small this will increase / decrease the likelihood that Lisa and Sean will conform to the group (1).
Social support may affect conformity (1). As Lisa and Sean agree with each other, this will decrease the likelihood that they will conform to the rest of the group (1).
Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of conducting research into conformity in a laboratory. (2 marks)
One strength of conducting research in a laboratory is that it allows the experimenter to control the variables, such as group size and difficulty of the task. (1) This manipulation of the IV allows conclusions to be drawn about cause and effect, and what the variables are that influence conformity. (1)
Outline one method that psychologists have used to study conformity. (2 marks)
Laboratory experiment (such as those carried out by Asch) (1) where confederates deliberately gave the wrong answer to see if the naïve participant conformed (1)
Explain one limitation of this method. (2 marks)
Lab experiments lack ecological validity (1) this means that the findings cannot be generalised to the real world (1)
Suggest an appropriate way of overcoming this limitation. (2 marks)
To overcome lack of ecological validity conduct the experiment in the real world (1) by setting up a field experiment so people behave as they would do normally (1).
Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer but the rest of the group want to go on a beach holiday. Suggest how Marcus might use the three minority behaviours to persuade his friends to go travelling. (3 marks)
- Consistency = 2. keep on repeating the same message about how great travelling is
- Commitment = 4. explain how he is taking time and working hard to plan the trip
- Flexibility = 6. agree to go to the beach on the travelling holiday
A senior army instructor is advising new instructors how to ensure discipline in training classes. He says, ‘Always wear your instructor jacket and stand up close when giving instructions. Make them all understand who has responsibility for the exercise. Serious problems should always be dealt with in the instructors’ office.’
Referring to research into obedience, explain three reasons why the instructor’s advice should be effective. (6 marks)
- Uniform – Presence of a uniform, in this case the instructor’s jacket, conveys legitimate authority, as in Milgram’s experiment where the experimenter had a lab coat.
- Proximity – standing up close means that people are more likely to follow instructions, as in Milgram’s experiment where the authority figure was more effective when in the same room
- Location – the use of the instructor’s office again conveys the force of legitimate authority as in the Milgram’s study where Yale was more likely to result in obedience than a downtown setting.
Jenny is a psychology teacher who works with six other teachers in the department. Jenny believes strongly that homework should not be graded as it distracts students from reading verbal feedback on their work. She would like her colleagues to stop grading work. The other members of the department do not agree but have told Jenny they are willing to have a meeting about it. Using your knowledge of minority influence, explain how Jenny might be able to persuade the rest of the department to accept her view. (6 marks)
Jenny should demonstrate consistency by not deviating from her view that not grading work is a good idea despite social pressure – she could point out that this is a view that she has held throughout her teaching career
- Jenny should demonstrate commitment by placing herself at some risk / inconvenience – she may volunteer to field criticisms from students, parents, other departments, etc. This will draw more attention to her ‘cause’ (augmentation principle)
- Jenny should demonstrate flexibility by adapting her view / accepting other valid counterarguments. Perhaps some pieces of work could be ungraded but not all – for instance, grading mock exams but not homework
- Over time, the rest of the department may become ‘converted’ (snowball effect) – for example, if Jenny’s students start to perform particularly well
Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation for obedience. (2 marks)
When a person acts on behalf of an authority figure (1) The actor feels no personal responsibility (1)
State one ethical issue with Milgram’s experiment and expain how to deal with it? (2 marks)
Deception (1) could be dealt with by debreifing the participant. It would have to be explained why it was necessary to deceive them and answer any questions that they might have wanted to ask, as well as reassuring them. (1)
In a hospital, you are very likely to obey a nurse. However, if you meet her outside the hospital, for example in a shop, you are much less likely to obey.
Using your knowledge of how people resist pressures to obey, explain why you are less likely to obey the nurse outside the hospital. (Total 4 marks)
One reason you are less likely to obey the nurse outside the hospital is because the legitmacy of authority may not be recognised, (1) especially if there is no uniform. (1) Another reason you are less likely to obey the nurse outside the hospital is because the location (1) may not be legitimate (1) for the nurse to give an order.
Explain what is meant by locus of control. (4 marks)
Locus of control is how much a person believes that they have control over events that happen in their lives. (1) This is usually measured along a scale with internal control at one end and external control at the other. (1) Internal control refers to those people who see that they have a great deal of control over their own behaviour and will take responsibility for their own actions. (1) External control refers to those who believe that their behaviour is controlled by other forces such as luck or fate. (1)
