Booklet 3: Everyday life/ Independent Behaviour

Question 1

What is independent behaviour?

Answer 1

Independent behaviour refers to resistance to conformity (nonconformity) and resistance to obedience (disobedience). Therefore a person who displays independent behaviour doesn’t base their decisions about their behaviour on the opinions of others.

Question 2

What is LOC?

Answer 2

LOC was identified as a personality dimension by Rotter in 1966. It concerns the extent which people perceive themselves as being in control of their own lives. People are not simply one type or other, but lie somewhere on the scale between high internal locus of control and high external locus of control.

Question 3

Explain high internal locus of control.

Answer 3

People with high internal LOC believe that they can affect the outcome of situations in their lives. They believe that their own decisions and actions are responsible for who happy or successful they are. They take more responsibility for their own lives and rely less on other people.

Question 4

Explain high external locus of control.

Answer 4

People with high external LOC believe that they have little control of lives. They believe that things will turn out a certain way regardless of what they do and that events occur to luck, fate or other external forces. They take less responsibility for their actions and are more likely to blame others.

Question 5

How does LOC affect our ability to display independent behaviour in CONFORMITY:

Answer 5

People with high internal LOC find it easier to resist the pressure to conform. This is because they are not as affected by the opinions of others. For example in Asch’s study.

Question 6

How does LOC affect our ability to display independent behaviour in OBEDIENCE:

Answer 6

People with high internal LOC find it easier to resist the pressure to obey. This is because they rely on their own judgements on what is right and wrong, rather than being influenced by others. For example in Milgrams study.

Question 7

What are the two secondary pieces of research to support LOC?

Answer 7

Shute (1975) & Jones (1996). Both these studies support the concept that LOC affects whether a person will display independent behaviour.

Question 8

Explain Shute (1975)

Answer 8

In this study, Shute exposed university students to peers who expressed either anti-drug taking or pro-drug taking attitudes. Participants whose tests showed they had internal LOC were less likely to conform with the pro-drug taking attitudes. This supports the idea that having high internal LOC increases resistance to conformity.

Question 9

Explain Jones (1996)

Answer 9

Jones investigated the link between morality and LOC. he found that people with high external LOC were more likely to obey unethical orders from authority figures.

Question 10

Explain the positive evaluation point for LOC.

Answer 10

It has high face validity. It seems logical that those who believe they are in control of their own lives will be better able to remain independent and resist the pressures to conform and obey.

Question 11

Explain the first negative evaluation point for LOC.

Answer 11

LOC is assessed using general scales of measurement, such as the rotter scale. However these scales are not designed to measure LOC in every possible situation, therefore just because someone has a high internal score, this does not necessarily mean they will always display independent behaviour.

Question 12

Explain the second negative evaluation point for LOC.

Answer 12

It is too simplistic to suggest that a persons behaviour entirely by either internal or external LOC e.g. in certain situations a person might demonstrate internal LOC, whereas in other they might demonstrate external LOC.

Question 13

What other factors might make us resist conformity?

Answer 13

P & S- Presence of a dissenter & Status.

Question 14

What other factors might take us resist obedience?

Answer 14

A & A. Reduce percieved authority & Increase autonomy.

Question 15

Explain Presence of a dissenter…

Answer 15

When a person views somebody else resisting conformity, this makes it easer for them to also resist. When one person sets an example of not conforming it is easier for others to follow their example. For example in Asch’s variation study, when one person didn’t conform the conformity rate was a lot lower.

Question 16

Explain Status….

Answer 16

People are more likely to conform with those of a higher status or those who they aspire

Question 17

Explain reduced perceived authority….

Answer 17

Research has shown that people will obey those who they believe have a higher level of authority. If the level of authority is reduced, people will disobey easier. Research to support this is Milgrams variation when orders were given over the phones obedience levels dropped.

Question 18

Explain increase autonomy….

Answer 18

Research has shown that people who are not acting autonomously and are in the agentic state are more likely to obey. Therefore if the sense of personal responsibility is increased, people are more likely to disobey orders that they believe to be wrong. For example in milgrams variation, where the participate (teacher) and confederate (learner) was in the same room the obedience rate dropped to 30%.

Question 19

What is the AO1 description for Social Minority/Change.

Answer 19

Social influence research suggests that it is minorities and independent behaviour that brings about social change, whereas conformity and obedience maintain the current social norms. A minority can slowly challenge the beliefs of the majority, eventually causing them to re-evaluate and change their beliefs, which then leads to the minority viewpoint becoming the majority viewpoint.

Question 20

What is social change?

Answer 20

The process by which society changes beliefs, attitudes and behaviour to create new social norms.

Question 21

What is minority influence?

Answer 21

A type of social influence where minority groups influence individuals to reject the established norms of the majority group, which can lead to social change if the minority are successful.

Question 22

What is social cryptoamnesia?

Answer 22

At fist the converts to the minority viewpoint are few but as more people change their opinions, the pace speeds up, and the minority gains status and acceptance. This is also known as the snowball effect.

Question 23

What are 3 examples of successful minorities?

Answer 23

Nelson Mandela, Ghandi and Rosa Parks.

Question 24

Explain Nelson Mandela’s minority influence…

Answer 24

1918-2013. He was in a tribe- the Thembu people, fighting for equality. He went to prison for 27 years. He went on to be the first black president in the USA.

Question 25

Explain Ghandi’s minority influence…

Answer 25

1869-1948. The leader of Indian Nationalist movement against British rule. Went back to India in 1881, after training to be a barrister and attending the college of London. He joined the struggle for rights, was in prison a number of times and was a victim of 6 attempted assasinations.

Question 26

Explain Rosa Parks minority influence…

Answer 26

1913-2005. She was an african and own rights activist, the first lady of the freedom movements and mother of civil rights. She refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white man- she was arrested and fined.

Question 27

Briefly describe Moscovici’s research.

Answer 27

Research into minority influence carried out in 1969.Claimed minorities who are consistent in their viewpoints create conflict in others, leading them to question and possibily change their views.

Question 28

What was Moscovici’s aim?

Answer 28

His study aimed to investigate the effects of a consistent minority on a larger group in a conformity task.

Question 29

What was Moscovici’s method?

Answer 29

82 groups of 6 participants. In each 6, 2 were confederates and 4 were real participants. All participants were female. Each group was shown 36 slides a variety of blue shades and were asked to state whether they were blue or green.
In one condition, the confederates consistently stated that slides were green. In another condition, they gave inconsistent answers of blue and green.

Question 30

What were Moscovici’s findings?

Answer 30

Participants conformed with consistent minority on 8.42%of trials, 32% conforming at least once. When the minority gave inconsistent answers, the conformity rate reduced to 1.25%.

Question 31

What was Moscovici’s conclusion?

Answer 31

he concluded that a consistent can have an influence on the majority opinion. Although the influence of a minority isn’t as strong as the influence of a majority (Asch). The minority still have an impact on the majority’s opinion.

Question 32

What are the two positive evaluation points for Moscovici’s?

Answer 32

It has high internal validity as it is an old test and it set out what it set to measure. Secondly it was a lab experiment, therefore the artificial environment eliminated extraneous variables so showed cause and effect.

Question 33

What are the three negative evaluation points for Moscovicis study?

Answer 33

It lacks population validity as the sample was all women so therefore cannot be generalised. It is also a small sample, so doesn’t give a true representation. Lastly as it is a lab experiment it lacks ecological validity as it doesn’t represent minority influence behaviour in a real life situation.

Question 34

What are the three factors that influence the success of minority influence?

Answer 34

Commitment, Consistency and Presence of a dissenter.

Question 35

Explain Commitment….

Answer 35

Research has shown that commitment is an important factor needed if a minority are to be successful. Social change is a gradual process as social norms take times to change. Minorities must be willing to make personal sacrifices over a long period of time if they want to influence the majority & create long term social change, For example in real life- Grandi went to prison several times but still committed to fighting what he believes in. In research- The Shute experiment shows that those committed are more likely to high internal LOC.

Question 36

Explain Consistency…

Answer 36

In order to be successful minorities need to be consistent, They need to give a consistently clear and logical message and not deviate from their objectives. This can cause minorities to think twice about current opinions, which can lead to social change if they are convinced by minority view. For example in real life- Nelson Mandela was consistent in his message of black peoples right so he was clear. In Research- Moscovici’s study shows that the more consistent a minority, the more likely you are to get social change.

Question 37

Explain Presence of a dissenter…

Answer 37

This can lead to social change as the dissenter sets the example of disobedience and non conformity to the current social norms. This gets the attention of the majority who may reconsider their opinions and possibly move to the minority viewpoint. For example in real life- Nelson Mandela had his tribe behind him and in research- Asch’s variation study when one confederate gave the right answer the conformity levels dropped.