Short response questions

Question 1

Describe the theories and studies involved in conformity, compliance & obedience.

Answer 1

THEORIES:

• Changing behaviour to be consistent with others: normative & informational influence
• Informational conformity is when we turn to others in ambiguous situations for guidance
• Normative conformity is when we conform to a behaviour to be socially accepted by those around us, driven by fear of disapproval (we want to fit in)

STUDIES:
a) Milgram’s obedience experiment: participants administered shocks to confederate, in the presence of authority figure. 65% actually gave an extreme shock to confederates. Levels of predicted obedience were underestimated.

b) Asch’s line study conformity experiment: participants gave the wrong answer, although it was clear the answer was wrong. It shows that even in unambiguous situations, we are influence by normative conformity.
c) Sherif’s auto kinetic experiment: small spot of light in a dark room. This experiment was an example of norm convergence –> participants converge their answer/decision on mean of group estimate, in ambiguous circumstances. This was an example of informational conformity (turning to others in unknown situation and converging on group estimate). This also led to norm persistence – participants internalised these norms.

Question 2

Describe the theories and studies involved in group processes.

Answer 2

THEORIES:

• People adopt set of behaviours when conforming to roles
• Festinger’s Social Comparison Theory: we hold some roles in more prestige (when competing for these roles)
• Social Facilitation theory: the presence of others enhances performance on easy tasks, & impairs performance on difficult tasks.
• Zajonc’s Drive theory: arousal drives energy to produce a dominant response; increases performance on easy tasks, worse at tasks we’ve rarely done.
• Cottrell’s evaluation theory: we quickly learn that rewards and punishments from others, are a reflection of their evaluation of us. Attentive others (not just mere presence), produces fear evaluation.
• Baron’s distraction conflict theory: performance on simple tasks is facilitated by arousal. This same arousal hinders performance on complex tasks.
• Social loafing
• De-individuation
• Group polarisation = exaggeration of initial responses in a group. “Risky shift”
• Social dilemmas = self-interested choices creates worse outcome for everyone.
• Tragedy of the commons.
• Juries (influenced by informational & normative influence), group decision making.

STUDIES:

• Zimbardo’s Prison study (group roles): extreme role adoption
• Triplett’s experiment: participants rode faster in presence of others.
• Rope pulling studies: loss of motivation in groups (social loafing)
• Halloween study (deindividuation): children took more lollies when de-individuated from personal identity.

Question 3

Describe the theories and studies involved with aggression.

Answer 3

THEORIES:

• Frustration-aggression hypothesis: frustration elicits aggression, particularly when there is an unexpected difficulty that arises.
• Bandura’s Social Learning theory (modelling): observation of others, affects likelihood to aggress.
• Aggression: proactive & reactive
• Can be reduced by: mindfulness, self-control training, empathy, operant conditioning (punishment)

STUDIES:

• Weapon effect: three conditions a) no objects b) room with guns c) room with badminton racquet. Participants gave shocks to confederates. Participants in the room with guns showed higher levels of aggression/ anger.
• Bobo Doll study: children modelled aggressive behaviour. Boys were more aggressive, effect was stronger for same sex modelling, exposure to aggressive behaviour appealed children to guns (although not initially shown).
• Watching Violent Media: correlation between watching violent media, and aggressive behaviour in teenage years. Two conditions a) violent tv show b) exciting, but non-violent tv show.
• Violent & Prosocial Video Games: prosocial video games led to more prosocial cognitions and behaviour. In contrary, more violent video games led to more violent cognitions & behaviour.
• Culture of Honour study: northerner’s vs southerner’s. Two conditions: a) insult vs b) no insult. Southerner’s in the insult conditions had increased levels of testosterone, and toughness.