Paper 1 - Social influence Flashcards
What are the three types of conformity
Internalisation
Identification
Compliance
What is internalisation
A deep type of conformity when a person genuinely accepts the groups norms, resulting in a private as well as public change of opinions/behaviours
What does internalisation lead to
Far-reaching and permanent changes in behaviour even when the group is absent because the behaviours have been internalised (part of the way they think)
What does identification mean
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like them. This may mean we publically change our opinions/behaviours to achieve this goal, even if we don’t privately agree with them
What is compliance
a superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. This change in behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us
What are the two explanations for conformity
Informational social influence
Normative social infleunce
What is informational social influence
Often we are uncertain about what behaviours/ beliefs are right or wrong so we look to others. Therefore we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well, may lead to internalisation
What kind of process is ISI
Cognitive process
What four situations is ISI most likely to occur
Situations which are new to a person, so you don’t know what is right.
Where there is some ambiguity, so it isn’t clear what’s right.
When decisions have to be made quickly.
When one person is regarded as more of an expert.
What is normative social influence
It’s about norms which regulate the behaviour of groups and individuals so it’s not surprising we pay attention to them. People do not like to appear foolish and prefer to gain to social approval and acceptance rather be rejected. This may lead to compliance
What kind of process is NSI
Emotional process
What 3 situations is NSI more likely to occur
Unfamiliar situations where you don’t know the norms so look to others about how to act.
With people you know because people are more concerned about social approval of their friends.
In stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support.
One strength of ISI as an explanation for conformity
Research support. LUCAS asked students to give answers to easy and difficult math questions. Greater conformity to incorrect answers when they were difficult rather than when they were easier. This shows that people conform in situations where they feel they don’t know the answer - ISI as we look for other people to guide us to answers we don’t know
Strength of NSI as an explanation for conformity
Research support. ASCH asked participants to explain why they went along with the wrong answer. Some of the participants said they felt self-conscious giving the wrong answer and were afraid of disapproval. When ASCH repeated his study but asked participants to write down their answers, conformity rates fell to 12.5%. Supports participants own reports that they were condoning because of NSI
Limitation of ISI and NSI as explanations for conformity
The ‘two-process’ approach may be an oversimplification as it is more often both processes of NSI and ISI that are involved. In ASCH’s study conformity is reduced when there is one dissenting participant which may reduce the power of NSI (social support) or reduce the power of ISI (alternative possible answer). Shows it’s not always possible to be sure which explanation is at work, casts serious doubt over the view of ISI and NSI as operating independently in conforming behaviour
What are the two studies for conformity
ASCH
ZIMBARDO
What was the procedure of ASCH’s original research
Showed participants a ‘standard line’ and on the other card three stimulus lines.
One of the lines was the same as the standard and other two were clearly wrong.
Participants asked which of the three lines matched the standard.
What was the layout of ASCH’s original study into conformity
123 Male participants.
Groups with six to eight confederates.
The naive participant was always last or second to last to give their answer.
18 trials, 12 critical trials. On the first few confederates gave the correct answer and then started getting it wrong.
What were the findings of ASCH’s original study
Wrong answer 36.8% of the time, shows high conformity and is called the ‘Asch Effect’.
25% never conformed showing significant independence.
75% of the participants conformed at least once.
What is the ‘Asch Effect’
A description of participants behaviour in ASCH’s conformity study - confirming to answers given by three or more confederates on an unambiguous task
What did the interviews of ASCH’s original study find
When the participants were interviewed after the study most said they had conformed to avoid rejection and had conditioned to trust their own opinions privately
What was the conditions for ASCH’s variables study
Group size: varied between 1 to 15 confederates
Unamity: one dissenting confederate (either giving correct or a different, incorrect answer)
Task difficulty: made the line judging task more difficult by making the stimulus line and comparisons line more similar in length
Findings of ASCH’s effect of group size on conformity study
When there were two confederates conformity to the wrong answer was 13.6%
With three confederates conformity rose to 31.8%
Addition of further confederates made little difference
What were he conclusions of ASCH’s study into the effect of group size on conformity
A small majority is not sufficient for influence to be exerted but at the other extreme there is not need for a majority of more than three
What were the findings of ASCH’s study into the effects of unamity on conformity
Presence of dissenting confederate led to reduced conformity whether the dissenter was giving the right or wrong answer. 25% wrong answers.
Conclusions of ASCH’s study into the effect of unamity on conformity
The presence of a dissenter enabled the naive participant to behave more independently.
Suggest that the infleunce of the majority depends to some extent on the group being unanimous
What were the findings of ASCH’s study into the effects of task difficulty on conformity
Conformity increased when tasks were difficult.
Suggest that ISI pays a greater role when the task becomes harder
What were the conclusions of ASCHS study into the effect of task difficulty on conformity
The situation is more ambiguous so we are likely to look for others for guidance and to assume they are right we are wrong
3 limitations to ASCHS studies into conformity
Child of its time. When repeated with engineering students only one student conformed in 396 trials. May be that engineering students felt more confident about measuring lines that the original sample and were less conformist. Possible that the 1950s were an especially conformist time in America and people are less conformist today. Means ASCHs research is not consistent across time so it’s not an enduring feature of human behaviour.
Artificial study and task. Participants knew it was an experience and may have gone along with the demand of the situation (demand characteristics). Task was relatively trivial and no reason not to conform. It also didn’t resemble groups that we are part of in everyday life. Means we can’t generalise findings to everyday situations especially when consequences of conformity might be important.
Only applies to certain situations. Participants had to answer out loud and with a group of strangers who they wanted to impress might mean conformity was higher than normal. However SOGON found that conformity was higher when the majority of the group were friends than when they were strangers. Suggests that the Asch Effect varies depending on circumstances.
- individualist culture, gender bias, ethical issues
What was the Aim of ZIMBARDOS mock prison study
Following the report of brutality by guards in prisons across America in the 1960s, they wanted to test whether brutality was the result of sadistic personalities or whether the behaviour was created by the situation
What was the procedure of ZIMBARDOS stanford prison experiment
24 ‘emotionally stable’ (deemed after extensive psychological testing) students randomly assigned to be prisoners or guards.
To heighten the realism, the prisoners were arrested in their homes and delivered to the prison.
Once they arrived, they were blindfolded, strip searched and deloused and issued a uniform and number.
Prisoners daily routine were heavily regulated and the 16 rules they had to follow were enforced by guards.
Prisoners names never used.
Guards had own uniform complete with wood clubs, handcuffs and mirror shades.
Guards told they had complete control over prisoners.
How did ZIMBARDOS study create de-individuation
The prisoners were only referred to by their number.
The guards wore mirror shades
What does de-individuation mean
A psychological state in which an individual loses their personal identity and takes on the identity of the social group when, for example, in a crowd or wearing a inform
Findings from ZIMBARDOS prison experiment
The prisoners rebelled within two days but the guards crushed their rebellion by conducting frequent head counts , sometimes in the middle of the night. Guards highlighted the differences in social roles by creating opportunities to enforce the rules of punishing slightly misdemeanours.
Study was dropped after six days instead of fourteen due to health of the prisoners at the hands of the guards.
How did the guards behaviour in ZIMBARDOS prison experiment become a threat to the prisoners psychological and physical health
After the rebellion was put down, the prisoners became subdued, anxious and depressed.
One prisoner was released because he showed signs of disturbance.
Two more released on the fourth day.
One prisoner went on hunger strike and the guards punished him by putting him in ‘the hole’.
Conclusions of ZIMBARDOS prison study
The stimulation revealed the power of the situation to influence people’s behaviour. Guards, prisoners and researcher all confirmed to their social roles within the prison. The more the guards identitied with their roles, the more brutal and aggressive their behaviour became
2 strength of ZIMBARDOS study
ZIMBARDO and his colleagues had some control over variables. Selection of participants - emotionally stable individuals were randomly assigned. Rules out indidvual differences bc if guards and prisoners behave differently but were in the roles by change then heir behaviour must have been due to the pressures of the situation. Increase internal validity so we can be more confident in drawing conclusions about the influences of roles on behaviour.
ZIMBARDO pointed to evidence that the situation was very real to participants. Quantitative data showed that 90% of the prisoners conversations during the simulation were about prison life. On balance, the simulation did seem real to the participants giving the study high internal validity.
2 limitations of ZIMBARDOS prison experiment
Lack of realism. Merely play-acting rather than genuinely conforming - the participants performances could be based on the stereotypes of how prisoners and guards are supposed to behave. One guard claimed he based his role on a character in Cool Hand Luke.
FROMM argues that he understated the role of dispositional influences. Only 1/3 of guards behaved brutally, 1/3 were keen on fairly applying the rules and the others actively tried to help and support the prisoners, offering them cigarettes and reinstating privileges. Suggests that the conclusion that participants conformed to social roles may be over-stated, the differences in guards behaviour indicates they were able to exercise right and wrong choices, despite the situational pressure to conform to a role.
What is a social role
The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. They are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role, for example caring, obedient etc
What is the social identity theory
Suggests you behaviour is motivated by your social identity. A persons self image has two components: personal identity and social identity. Personal identity is based on your characteristics and achievements. Social identity is determined by the various social groups to which you belong, your ‘ingroups’
What is the key study into obedience
MILGRAM
Who were the participants in MILGRAMS baseline study
40 Male volunteers. Aged 20-50. Different occupations. Told it was a study on memory
What was the aim of MILGRAMS baseline xperiment
Sought to answer the question of why the German population had followed the orders of Hitler and slaughtered over 10 million Jews.
What was the procedure of MILGRAMS baseline study
Drew lots for ‘roles’.
A confederate called ‘Mr Wallace’ always ended up as the ‘learner’ while the participants was the teacher. Also an experimenter dressed in a lab coat who was an actor. Participants told they could leave at any time.
Learner way strapped in a chair and wired with electrodes.
Teacher was required to give the learner an increasingly secrete electric shock each time the learner made a mistake.
Shocks stated at 15 volts and rose to 450volts.
When teacher got to level 300 the learner pounded on wall and gave no response to next question.
After the 315 volt shock the learner pounded on wall again and there was no further response from the learner.
If the participants in MILGRAMS baseline study wished to stop what were the 4 prods the ‘experimenter gave them’
If teacher felt unsure about continuing the experimenter used this sequence: Please continue The experiment requires You continue It is essential you continue You have no other choice; you must go on
What were the MIGRAMS baseline study findings
12.5% stopped at 300 volts, 65% continued to 450 volts. Nobody stopped below 300 volts.
Qualitative data showed the participants showed extreme signs of tension many were ‘sweating, trembling, biting their lips’ and three even had ‘uncontrollable seizures’.
Prior to MILGRAMS baseline study what was predicated
Students estimated that 3% would continue to 450 volts
After MILGRAMS baseline study what happened during the debriefing
84% of participants said they were happy to have participated after being debriefed and assured their behaviour was normal.
74% felt they had learned something of personal experience.
2 Strengths of MILGRAMS Vaseline study
Good external validity. The central feature of the situation was relationship between authority figure and the participants. Milgram argues that the lab environment accurately reflected wider authority relationships in real life. HOFLING found 21 out of 22 nurses on a hospital ward obeyed unjustified demands by doctors. Suggests the processes of obedience to authority that occurred in Milgrams lab study can be generalised to other situations.
Replications support. Le Jeu de La Mort (the game of death) is French documentary about reality TV which included a replica of Milgrams study, 80% gave the maximum shock of 460 volts and their behaviour was almost identical to Milgrams participants. Supports original conclusions about obedience to authority and demonstrates his findings aren’t one-off.
What is external validity
The degree to which a research can be generalised to other settings (ecological validity) other groups of people (population validity) and over time (historical validity)
2 limitations of MILGRAMS baseline study
Lacked internal validity. Participants may have behaved the way they did because they didn’t believe the set up - guessed it wasn’t real electric shocks. In which case Milgram was not testing what he intended so the study lacked internal validity. However KING did a similar study where real shocks were given to a puppy and 54% of Male students and 100% of females delivered what they thought was a fatal shock. Suggests the observer effects in Milgrams study were genuine because people behave the same with real shocks.
Alternative explanation. According to social identity theory the key to obedience lies in group identification. In MILGRAMS study the participants identified with the experimenter and the science of the study. When obedience levels fell the participants identified less with the science and more with the victim. The first three prods don’t demand obedience, they appeal for help with the science but when the 4th prod was used it demands obedience and participants quit. Suggests participants did not continue giving shocks through obedience but due to their identification with the experimenter as a scientist.
What is internal validity
Concerned with what goes on inside a study - the extend to which the researcher is measuring what was intended. In an experiment, this includes the control of variables to ensure the changes in the DV are solely due to the IV
What is obedience
A form of social infleunce in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority who has the power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming
What are the situational factors of obedience
Proximity
Location
Uniform
