Social Influence

Question 1

Rank & Jacobson 1977

Answer 1

80% of nurses disobeyed doctors order to give excessive dose
Suggests Milgram’s agency theory may be incorrect

Question 2

Asch 1955 - variation

Answer 2

Group size - conformity increases up to 3 confederates
Unanimity - presence of dissenter drops conformity by 3/4
Task difficulty - harder task increased ISI

Question 3

Asch 1951 - original

Answer 3

75% conformed at least once
Suggests people conform for situational rather than dispositional reasons

Question 4

Zimbardo 1973

Answer 4

Prisoners and guards quickly conformed to social roles
Prisoners rebelled within 2 days
Had to stop after only 6 days
Suggests social roles and uniform have powerful effect of behaviour

Question 5

Bickman 1974

Answer 5

Passers-by were twice as likely to obey if they were wearing a uniform
Suggests uniform is a powerful variable
Supports Milgram

Question 6

Milgram 1963 - variation

Answer 6

Close proximity = 30%
Run down location = 47%
No uniform = 20%
Dissenter = 10%

Question 7

Milgram 1963 - original

Answer 7

100% shocked to 300V, 65% were fully obedient (to 450V - fatal)
Suggests people obey for situational rather than dispositional variables

Question 8

Elm & Milgram 1966

Answer 8

Obedient participants from Milgram’s experiment scored higher on the F-scale than non-obedient participants
Suggests that people conform for dispositional reasons

Question 9

Twenge 2004

Answer 9

Over 40 years - people have more external LOC but are also more disobedient
Suggests internal LOC is not biggest variable in resisting obedience

Question 10

Holland 1967

Answer 10

Internal LOC = 37% disobedient part.
External LOC = 23% disobedient part.
Suggests internal LOC could explain resistance to social influence

Question 11

Moscovici 1969

Answer 11

A consistent minority were able to inlfuence participants to say a blue slide is green in 8% of trials
Suggests consistency is key to minority influence

Question 12

What are the 3 situational variables for obedience?
And what are their effects?

Answer 12

Proximity - when forcing hand obedience dropped to 40%
Location - dropped to 47.5%
Uniform - dropped to 20%

Question 13

What is the agentic state? - explanation for obedience

Answer 13

The state when a person does not feel responsible for their actions

Question 14

What is the autonomous state?

Answer 14

The state when a person acts according to their own principles. They are not an agent

Question 15

What is the agentic shift?
When does this happen?

Answer 15

The shift from autonomy to ‘being an agent’. Milgram says this happens when we perceive someone as having more authority than us

Question 16

What is legitimacy of authority? - explanation for obedience

Answer 16

We see an authority figure as legitimate due to factors such as uniform and being higher in social hierarchy

Question 17

What is the authoritarian personality?

Answer 17

A personality type that is especially susceptible to obeying authority. They also tend to be dismissive of inferiors.

Question 18

Adorno 1950

Answer 18

Authoritarians (who scored high on the F-scale) were identified with ‘strong’ people. They also tend to be prejudice.

Question 19

What causes Authoritarian Personality?

Answer 19

Harsh parenting in childhood - severe criticism, impossibly high standards

Question 20

Social support as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 20

Pressure to conform is reduced when others are not conforming.
Presence of dissenter means majority is not unanimous

Question 21

Locus of control as explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 21

Internals show greater resistance pressures to conform / obey

Question 22

Which type of conformity does minority influence lead to?

Answer 22

Internalisation

Question 23

What are the 3 minority influence processes?

Answer 23

Consistency - always doing the same thing
Commitment - showing deep / long involvement
Flexibility - showing willingness to listen to others

Question 24

What is the augmentation principle?

Answer 24

The majority will pay even more attention is minority is committed, as they think that the minority may be onto something

Question 25

What are the 6 social change processes?

Answer 25

Drawing attention
Consistency
Deeper processing
Augmentation Principle
Snowball effect
Social cryptoamnesia