Essay Structures

Question 1

Milgrams Agency Theory

Answer 1

Autonomous state, agentic shift, agentic state, moral strain, eventually displace responsibility onto authorit
E.g. Milgram (include sweating)
Suggest obedient to authority
Therefore, useful when explaining why people may commit awful acts when told to by authority

Socialisation (how we learn to be obedient)
Socialising agents
E.g. Teacher/parent etc
Suggest young age taught to be obedient
Therefore this may explain how we have learnt to be obedient

Many issues with agency theory, such as it ignores individual differences, lacks testability, SIT more testable, O=SxIxN
E.g. Illustrative example
Suggests SIT easier to measure chances of obedience
Therefore, SIT may be more useful when assessing the chances of someone being obedient as it is more valid

Question 2

Social Impact Theory

Answer 2

General 
Sources and targets
Formulaic 
E.g. Illustrative example about policeman
High testability and objective
However some aspect still subjective

“Strength”
Milgrams variation 13
However, doesn’t consider individual differences

“Immediacy”
Variation 7
Suggests orders over phone less effective
Therefore SUPPORTS idea immediacy implicated

Question 3

Social Identity Theory

Answer 3

Merely presence of in group and out group
Three stages of group formation
Social comparison where prejudice occurs
E.g. Tajjfels minimal group studies
Therefore useful application break down barriers
However, methodologically flawed

Prejudice in social comparison due to Homogenous/heterogenous
E.g. Illustrative example
Suggests beliefs could lead to stereotypes
Therefore, can explain why prejudice occurs

RCT more useful as strategy can be more easily used
E.g. Robbers cave second stage vs third stage
Suggests superordinate goals works
Therefore more useful than SIT in terms of strategies to reduce prejudice

Question 4

RCT

Answer 4

Comp for scarce resources
E.g. Zero sum games over finite resources
Suggests that due to wanting outgroup to lose and ingroup to win prejudice arises
Therefore this may explain why prejudice occurs

Suggests superordinate goals to reduce prejudice, state what a superordinate goal is
E.g. Truck stuck in mud, prejudice level went down
Suggests that superordinate goals work
Therefore useful application

However, SIT, which was developed by tajfel accounts for prejudice without comp
E.g. Minimal group studies
Suggests merely the presence leads to prejudice
Therefore, this could highlight that SIT is more complete than RCT in explaining causes of prejudice

Question 5

Sherif robbers cave experiment (1954/61)

Answer 5

Aim
Useful as furthers our understanding of potential causes and gives us a strategy to reduce prejudice

Participants - why so similar, what experimental design
E.g. Procedure
Suggests reliable and valid
Therefore reliable and valid representation

Findings reliable valid and applied
E.g. Findings
Suggests...
Therefore useful applications
However, lack generalisability so true extent can be applied is limited

Question 6

Reicher and Haslam (2006)

Answer 6

Aim
Useful - see how different groups in society interact
And show valuable social research could be done whilst adhering to the ethical guidelines

Pp, guards told more trustworthy and had to enforce rules and had better facilities
E.g. Procedure
Suggests standardised procedure so reliable
Therefore, reliable representation
However, as ethical guidelines followed may lack validity

Findings clearly reliable and applied
E.g. Findings
Suggests when a subordinate group becomes impermeable will lead to collective action
Therefore useful to explain why people who are marginalised behave in this way