14: Real Life Implications of Social Psychology

Question 1

Practical applications of social psychology

Answer 1

• Milgram’s research into obedience has lead the general population to question authority, prevent blind/destructive obedience. increase in public safety eg prevent further genocides (eg Nazi Germany). can also be used to train doctors if the effects of obedience, prevent them from following poor orders
• research into explanations for obedience such as agentic state and legitimacy of authority can be used to explain and prevent war crimes (eg Kelman and Hamilton (1989) Mai Lai massacre - american soldiers killed 504 unarmed civilians in Vietnam war
• research into explanations of resistance to social influence such as locus of control can be used in educational settings, eg improving resilience in students
• research into minority influence can be used to improve the justice system, eg juries can be made aware of the potential influence of a small group or individual
• research into minority influence can be used to inspire social change, such as through consistency and flexibility. eg ongoing movements such as black lives matter and LGBTQ
• Asch’s research into conformity can be used to inspire social change, such as using NSI and ISI in advertisements and campaigns, eg to stop issues like smoking and littering
• research into factors affecting obedience can be used by authorities such as police and the government to improve law enforcement, eg by wearing uniform and giving orders in specific locations
• Zimbardos research into conformity to social roles can help to prevent future brutality in prisons eg by training prison guards on the effects of social influence (eg Abu Ghraib prison)

Question 2

Economic implications of social psychology: Positives

Answer 2

• research into factors affecting social change such as consistency, flexibility and commitment can be used to help improve issues such as tax evasion, unjust pay, and to reduce unnecessary spending. also can help solve environmental issues by promoting recycling and electric vehicles and decreasing littering, meaning less money will be spent on environmental issues
• research using methods like volunteer sampling (Milgram) and small scale samples (Zimbardo) will reduce the cost of research
• research into the role of conformity in social change has led to the ‘behavioural insight team’ which can use NSI and ISI to improve the economy eg by encouraging people to pay car tax
• research into explanations for resisting social influence such as locus of control can be used in an educational setting, eg improving students confidence which will lead to better behaviour and attendance and improve efficiency in the education system

Question 3

Economic implications of social psychology: Negatives

Answer 3

• research into social change and the role of minority influence and conformity can lead to changing laws or creating new laws, which can be expensive. it can take a long time and laws change regularly which will cost the economy more over time, this may lead to increased taxes for funding the changes
• research into resistance to obedience can have bad effects on society and the economy since people defying laws and regulations can lead to societal chaos, eg the London riots cost billions to recover from the damage
• research into conformity can be commercialised and used in advertising, which may lead to excessive and unnecessary spending and increase in consumerism
• some participants in research may sue for emotional damage due to ethical issues such as lack of protection from harm, eg Zimbardos study was terminated early due to ppts experiencing extreme distress, and it have been traumatic