Social Influence

Question 1

Outline and evaluate the findings of Asch’s study of social influence.

Answer 1

Findings: In Asch’s simple perception task judging length of lines compared to a standard line, in 12 of 18 trials confederates intentionally chose incorrect answers. Within these trials, 37% of the naïve participants conformed with the confederates and also chose the same incorrect line. Asch found that 75% of participants conformed with to incorrect consensus at least once, significant compared to the 0.7% error rate in the control group, who completed the task alone.
Evaluation:

Question 2

Outline and evaluate the findings of Milgram’s study of social influence.

Answer 2

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Question 3

Outline and evaluate the findings of Zimbardo’s study of social influence.

Answer 3

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Question 4

Give a definition and example of identification.

Answer 4

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Question 5

Give a definition and example of informal social influence.

Answer 5

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Question 6

Give a definition and example of normative social influence.

Answer 6

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Question 7

Give a definition and example of compliance.

Answer 7

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Question 8

Give a definition and example of internalisation.

Answer 8

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Question 9

Outline two explanations for obedience (6).

Answer 9

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Question 10

Discuss two explanations of resistance to social influence.

Answer 10

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Question 11

Outline two explanations for obedience (6).

Answer 11

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Question 12

Evaluate explanations of obedience.

Answer 12

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Question 13

Using your knowledge of conformity and minority influence, explain the factors that will determine how successful a small group will be in convincing the school to go paper free (7).

Answer 13

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Question 14

Briefly discuss two criticisms of Zimbardo’s research into conformity to social rules.

Answer 14

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Question 15

Discuss the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience (8).

Answer 15

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Question 16

Outline one alternative explanation for obedience, other than authoritarian personality (3).

Answer 16

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Question 17

Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation for obedience (2).

Answer 17

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Question 18

Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform (16).

Answer 18

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Question 19

Discuss two variables that affect conformity (6).

Answer 19

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Question 20

Outline and evaluate identification with social roles as an explanation for conformity (4).

Answer 20

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Question 21

Evaluate Milgram’s (1963) study off obedience in terms of ethical issues (6).

Answer 21

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Question 22

Outline two situational variables that may affect obedience (4).

Answer 22

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Question 23

Explain how an individual’s personality can make them more likely to resist social influence (4).

Answer 23

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Question 24

What is social cryptoamnesia?

Answer 24

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Question 25

Outline and evaluate Moscovici et al’s (1969) study of minority influence.

Answer 25

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Question 26

Discuss how social influence can lead to social change (16).

Answer 26

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Question 27

Outline and evaluate the procedures of Asch (1951).

Answer 27

Method: Asch (1951) carried out a laboratory experiment with an independent group design. They showed 8 participants a standard line, to be compared to 3 sample lines, one of which is identical to the standard line. Unknown to the participant, the 7 other people were confederates. On 12/19 trials, the confederates all chose the same incorrect line. Results were compared to a control group, in which participants judged the line lengths in isolation.

Question 28

Outline and evaluate the procedures of Zimbardo.

Answer 28

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Question 29

Outline and evaluate the procedures of Milgram.

Answer 29

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