Exam Questions

Question 1

Name one explanation of resistance to social influence

Answer 1

-locus of control

Question 2

Describe how Zimbardo investigated conformity to social roles

Answer 2

-mock prison in stanford uni
-arrested P at home
-assigned role of guard or prisoner
-quickly identified with roles
-observational techniques
-stopped early

Question 3

Using knowledge of social influence in social change, explain why fewer and fewer people are using single-use plastic items

Answer 3

-become flexible, consistent and committed to reusable plastics
-over time it will unroll in social change = snowball effect
-ISI = more is known about harmful effects = convinced by evidence
-NSI = going against group norms risks rejection

Question 4

Discuss legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience

Answer 4

-when a person recognises their own and other’s positions in a social hierarchy
-legitimacy is increased by visible symbols of authority
-legitimacy of setting, order, system
-eg. Milgram with location and lab coats etc

-explanation cannot account for rates of disobedience in studies
-obedience may be dispositional, not situational, eg authoritarian personality
-cultural differences in respect for and responses to authority