Exam PPQ's

Question 1

Identify three variables affecting conformity and outline how each of these was investigated in Asch’s experiment. (6)

Answer 1

• Group size – Asch varied the number of confederates/stooges
• Unanimity – Asch sometimes arranged for a confederate to give a different answer to the majority/same answer as the real participant
• Task difficulty – Asch made the right answer less obvious by having lines of similar length
(Credit other relevant variables.)

Question 2

Outline and briefly evaluate locus of control as an explanation of resistance to social influence. (6)

Answer 2

AO1:
• General concept of locus of control – Rotter (1966)
• People are more likely to resist social influence if they have an internal locus of control
• Internal locus of control enables greater personal efficacy, self-confidence
• Credit also reference to the opposite external locus of control and the inability to resist social influence.

AO3:
• Use of evidence for the effect of locus of control on resistance: eg Holland
• Contrast between dispositional (locus of control) explanations and other explanations.