1.1: Conformity (majority influence) Flashcards
Briefly outline and evaluate the findings of any one study of social influence (4 marks)
Zimbardo found that there was increased passivity of the ‘prisoners’ in the face of increased brutality of the ‘guards.’
The study was abandoned after 5 days
Briefly outline and evaluate the findings of any one study of social influence (4 marks).
Zimbardo found that there was increased passivity of the ‘prisoners’ in the face of increased brutality of the ‘guards.’
The study was abandoned after 5 days.
However, what?
However, Zimbardo was a participant observer, as he took the role of prison superintendent.
He played a ‘dual-role.’
Zimbardo’s own behaviour affected the way in which events unfolded.
Therefore, the validity of the findings could be questioned
Social influence research helps us to understand how it is possible to change people’s behaviour: for example, understanding how to persuade people to eat more healthily.
With reference to this example of social change, explain how psychology might affect the economy (4 marks)
Psychology might affect the economy, because social influence research tells us how behaviour and attitudes can be changed
Social influence research helps us to understand how it is possible to change people’s behaviour: for example, understanding how to persuade people to eat more healthily.
With reference to this example of social change, explain how psychology might affect the economy (4 marks).
Psychology might affect the economy, because social influence research tells us how behaviour and attitudes can be changed.
Example
For example, how minority influence can be exerted or how people tend to conform to perceived norms
Social influence research helps us to understand how it is possible to change people’s behaviour: for example, understanding how to persuade people to eat more healthily.
With reference to this example of social change, explain how psychology might affect the economy (4 marks).
Psychology might affect the economy, because social influence research tells us how behaviour and attitudes can be changed.
For example, how minority influence can be exerted or how people tend to conform to perceived norms.
In this case, what does the resulting change of eating more healthily mean?
In this case, the resulting change of eating more healthily means that people should be more healthy
Social influence research helps us to understand how it is possible to change people’s behaviour: for example, understanding how to persuade people to eat more healthily.
With reference to this example of social change, explain how psychology might affect the economy (4 marks).
Psychology might affect the economy, because social influence research tells us how behaviour and attitudes can be changed.
For example, how minority influence can be exerted or how people tend to conform to perceived norms.
In this case, the resulting change of eating more healthily means that people should be more healthy.
What is the economic implication?
The economic implication is that it means people have less time off work sick and it saves health care resources
Studies of conformity are sometimes criticised for being unethical.
Briefly explain two ways in which psychologists might address ethical issues in social influence research (4 marks)
One way is that participants should be given the right to withdraw, at the start and throughout the study and if they want their data to be withdrawn at the end
Studies of conformity are sometimes criticised for being unethical.
Briefly explain two ways in which psychologists might address ethical issues in social influence research (4 marks).
One way is that participants should be given the right to withdraw, at the start and throughout the study and if they want their data to be withdrawn at the end.
Another way
Another way is that participants should not be put in embarrassing situations
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)
One factor is group size.
If the group size is large, this will increase the likelihood that Lisa and Sean will conform to the group
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).
One factor is group size.
If the group size is large, this will increase the likelihood that Lisa and Sean will conform to the group.
Another factor
Another factor is social support.
As Lisa and Sean agree with each other, this will decrease the likelihood that they will conform to the rest of the group
Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food.
Jan had listened to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food.
Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked.
Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.
Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing (4 marks)
Jan is showing internalisation, because she has taken the others’ beliefs as her own and this behaviour continues even when she is away from the group
Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food.
Jan had listened to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food.
Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked.
Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.
Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing (4 marks).
Jan is showing internalisation, because she has taken the others’ beliefs as her own and this behaviour continues even when she is away from the group.
Norah
Norah is showing compliance, because away from the group she reverted back to her original behaviour
Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food.
Jan had listened to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food.
Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked.
Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.
Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing (4 marks).
Jan is showing internalisation, because she has taken the others’ beliefs as her own and this behaviour continues even when she is away from the group.
Norah is showing compliance, because away from the group she reverted back to her original behaviour.
Jan believes the others were right (ISI), while Norah just wanted to be accepted by her housemates (NSI)
