P1: Social Influence Flashcards
3 Types of Conformity + briefly explain
Compliance - Public change of opinion, when pressure is removed opinions revert
Identification - When we identify with a group we want to be a part off(even if we don’t agree with views)
Internalisation - Change in private and public beliefs (Sharing their value)
What is Normative Social Influence
(Emotional Process)
Occurs in unfamiliar Situations with people we don’t know. Stems from desire to not look foolish(Social approval)
What is Informative Social Influence
(Cognitive Process)
Occurs in ambiguous situations or when we trust an expert. Stems from desire to be right
Evaluate Normative Social Influence
+ Research Support
Asch Study, When asked why ppl conformed ∵ they don’t want to look foolish
- Individual differences
nAFFILATORS, affects those who care more about social affection
Evaluate Informative Social Influence
+ Research Support
Maths class example of ambiguity
- Individual Differences
If your smart in a specific field you will be more confident
Outline the basics of Asch’s Study
123 American Male Students
Average 36.8% gave wrong answer most of times
25% never gave wrong answer
Asch effect is conformity in ambiguous situations
Describe the Variations conducted in Asch’s Study
1) Group size
= 3 was ideal number 32% AVG conformity
2) Unanimity
= Presence of dissenting confederate reduced conformity regardless of confederate giving right or wrong answers, Enables you to be more independent
3) Task Difficulty
= ISI. we look to others for guidance and assume their right
Evaluate Asch’s Study
- Temporal validity
=Replicated results showed differently. 1950s were a conformist time ∴ shows Asch effect is not a consistent human feature - Artificial Task
=Demand Characteristics, no reason to not conform + groups weren’t like typical day groups ∴ no generalising able - Application/Generalising
=Individualistic v collectivists, China is suggest to be more conforming ∴ Asch study only limited to US men. - Ethics
=Deception was involved
What is the Aim of Zimbardo (SPE) Study
To test and see if the brutality of prison guards is a result of sadistic personality or formed from the situation
Briefly describe the methodology of the ZImbardo study
24 emotionally stable students randomly assigned roll of guard or prisoner. Key concept/theme - de-individualisation.
- only called by serial number
- Uniform and gear worn plus complete control given to guards
State the findings of the Zimbardo Study
Prisoners were harassed by guards threatening health.
- Prisoners rebelled which was shut down = anxious + depressed
- 3 prisoners were released early
- 1 force-fed due to hunger strike and put in solitary
- Total day 6/8 Days
Evaluate Zimbardo Study
+ Controlled Variables = Good Internal Validity
Emotionally stable + randomly assigned roles
- Realism = Play acting? Riots occurred ∵ thats what prisoners do on TV. 1 person based his guard on a film character ‘cool hand Luke’
- Dispositional Influences = Only 1/3 Guards were Brutal ∴ Zimbardo exaggerated n shows guards can exercise right n wrong
- Major ETHICS = Zimbardo was Both lead researcher n prisoner superintendent. Roles conflicts
Describe the Methodology with Milgram’s Obedience study briefly
40 males volunteered. Shocks started at 15V - 450V 4 Main Prods given 1- Please continue 2- Experiment requires you to continue 3- Essential you continue 4- You have no choice, Continue
Describe the findings in Milgram’s study
No participant stopped below 300V
12.5% (5ppl) stopped at 300V
65% continued to 450V
-Observations showed signs of anxiety, sweat, tremble ,groan… 3 ppl had full blown uncontrollable seizures.
-Prediction was no more than 3% would continue to 450V
Evaluate Milgram’s Study
- Lack of Internal Validity : Possible Guessed shocks are fake = Demand Characteristics?. 70% of Participants thought shocks were real
+ Ecological Validity : Experimenter n participant relation like real-life ∴ generalisable
+ Replication = French Documentary replicated. 80% gave 450V shock - Ethics = Deception. May harm researchers Rep
Name the 3 variations preformed In Milgram Study
- Proximity
- Location
- Uniform
Name the effect found from Proximity in the Milgram Study
Teacher n Learner = same room
-65% -> 40%
touch proxi ,teacher must place learners hand on shocker… - 30% obedience
-Remote-instruction. Instructions over a phone
-20.5% n many faked shocks or lowered shocks
Name the effect found from Location in the Milgram Study
Preformed in a worn-down building rather than good uni - 47.5% obedience
Name the effect found from Uniform in the Milgram Study
Experimenter, leaves room due to ‘emergency’ n is replaced by dude in ordinary clothes
- 20% obedience (Lowest)
Evaluate the situational variables found that affect obediences by Milligram’s study
+ Research support: When asking ppl for coin on street while wearing different clothes. 2x more likely to obey ‘security guard’ vs ‘jacket/tie’ man
- Lack Internal Validity: Even more likely too guess its fake ∵ extra manipulation added. Milgram acknowledged uniform experiment was a stretch
+ Replication : Done in Spain, found = 90% obedience (students) ∴ generalisable. Note: Most replications are in Western World
+ Control: Systematically varied 1 variable at a time ∴ shows cause and effect relation
Define Agentic State
Define Autonomous State
Agentic : When we act on behalf of another person ∴ feeling no personal responsibility for our actions
Autonomous State : When we act accordingly to our own principles n feel responsible for our own actions
Define Agentic Shift
Shift from autonomy to being an ‘agent’ occurs when we perceive someone else as an authority figure (Social Hierarchy)
Define: Binding Factors
n
List Coping methods
(In terms of Obedience)
Binding: Factors which minimise damaging effect/ moral strain allowing you to preform orders
Coping: Shifting blame to victim or Denial of damage inflicted
What effect does Legitimacy of authority have on society and how did originate
Structured Social hierarchy with legit authority agreed by society. Accepted they should exercise power to keep society functioning.
Ingrained during childhood.
… Can lead to destructive authority if not careful e.g. Hitler
Evaluate Social - psychological factors in obedience
+ Research Support (Agentic): When Milgram study reviewed n asked who is to blame. Students say experimenter ∵ of Legitimacy off authority
- Limited Explanation (Agentic): Not everyone obeys but we should?.e.g. Nurses show same anxiety but obey as they understood their role.
+ Cross - Culture Research : 16% Australians went to 450V 85% Germans went to 450V ∴ different societies, different structure = boost validity
Define Authorian personality
Extreme Respect for authority n contempt for ‘inferiors’
Formed in childhood via harsh parenting n conditional love ∴ create resentment n hostility.
Feelings are displaced onto wearing beings (Scapegoating) due to fear of reprisal from superiors
Describe both the procedure and findings of the Authorian personality study Preformed by Adorno
-To test unconscious attitudes towards other racial groups. 2000 Middle - class Americans tested. Used F- Scale (Fascim Scale) E.g. 'Obedience n respect...most important virtues a child should learn'
-Found: Authorians: High on F - Scale n low on other measures. Identified/Respected with Strong. Contempt with weak. Conscious of Status. Distinct Cognitive Style, no fuzziness between categories of ppl. Fixed distinct stereotypes of other ppl
Evaluate Adrono’s Study on the Authorian Personality
+ Research Support: Interviews with fully obedience students(Scored High F-Scale), suggested link/correlation. Note: Correlation is not Causation. Maybe its education’s fault(3rd factor)
- Limited Explanation: Nazi’s. Millions of Germans displayed obediences n anti-semantic behaviour but don’t have same personality. Maybe its Social Identification Theory. Identified with Anti-semantics n adopted Nazi’s views
- Politically Biased: Aims to measure Right-Wing (extremists) but Right-wing n Left-wing require complete obedience ∴ incomplete explanation as it don’t explain Left-Wing
- Researcher Bias/Methodology Issues: Interviews conducted by researchers who knew they had the personality. Demand Characteristics? ∴ data collected = low validity
Describe how Social Support can aid you in terms of resistance to social influence
- Conformity is reduced by a dissenting peer(Role Model) If the Model returns to conforming so will the follower ∴ not permeant (Asch Study)
- Obedience is reduced by a dissenting peer. Frees you to act from your own conscious
Explain what Locus of Control(LOC) Is and how it applies to resistance in terms of social influence
Internal LOC: Place control within themselves
External LOC: Place control outside themselves
Internals have greater resistance to social influence ∵ Decisions based on own belief.e.g. High Internals = Confident n achievement oriented
Evaluate The effects of resistance to social influence
+ Research support (conformity):1 dissenter = independence regardless of reason
+Research support(Obedience): Milgram Study replicated in groups. 29/33 or 88% rebelled
+ Research support(LOC): Milgram replicated = 37% Internals didn’t go to 450V. 23% externals didn’t go to 450V ∴ validity (up)
- Temporal Validity: US Data = more independent yet more external ∴ challenge LOC link.
-LOC Exaggerated: Only works in new situations, ignores experience.
How does Minority influence occur; describe and explain the processes involved
Occurs via internalisation
-Consistency: Helps gain interest. Challenges established beliefs. 2 types
Synchronised Consistency: all ppl say the same thing(Between ppl)
Diachronic Consistency: They been saying this for time(Between time)
-Commitment: Helps gain attention. uses
Augmentation principle: Majority pays even more when some risk is created ∴ demonstrate cause
-Flexibility: Balance between consistency n flexibility. to not be seen as rigid. Consistent arguments = off-putting n rigid. Must be reasonable, adaptable n accept counter-argument
What is the Snowball Effect?
2 Marks
When Minority becomes majority.
Rate of conversion will increase the more it happens.
Describe the Blue-Green Slides study/experiment preformed to minority influence by Moscovici
Ppl view multiple slides n must state colour.
3 groups:
1- confederates always say green
2- confederates inconsistent with colour state
3- control. (no confederates). Findings:
1 : 32% gave same answer on at least one trial
2 : Agreement fell to 1.25%
3 : wrong only 0.25% of the time
Evaluate the effect of minority influence
+ Research evidence(Consistency): Meta-analysis of roughly 100 similar studies = minorities seen as consistent = most influential ∴ key factor
- Artificial research: Blue-Green Slides(Moscovici) no link to how minorities try to change IRL opinions.e.g. Juries = life or death or majority has power ∴ lack ecological validity n cannot generalise
+ Research Support(Internalisation): Blue-Green Slides(Moscovici) when told to write down answers=private. Agreement with minority was higher ∴ internalisation occurred but reluctant to admit publicly ∴ affect but not apprent
Describe the Steps in which Social Change occurs
1- Attention drawn, e.g. civil right marches
2- Consistency e.g. minority march consistently
3- Deeper Processing e.g.
4- Augmentation Principle. Change slowly occurs.e.g. Freedom fighters
5- Snowball Effect. Minority changes to majority.e.g.Martin Luther King, political attention
6- Social Cryptomnesia. Memory of change occurring but not how/Leading up to event.
Evaluate Social Influence and social Change
+Research support(NSI): when asking members to reduce energy= not effective(control group). Only when told about others reducing energy= effective
- Indirectly effective: Change occurs over prolong time ‘delayed effects’ = too fragile explanation. Indirectly = central issues addressed but not main issues
- Methodology: Social change experiments rely on artificial task ∴ cannot generalise
