Social Influence exam q

Question 1

Describe how Zimbardo investigated conformity to social roles
( 4 marks) Describe - AO1 only

Answer 1

set up mock prison in the basement of Stanford University
* observational study – controlled, participant, overt
* volunteers who were emotionally stable were assigned to roles of either prisoner or guard
* prisoners ‘arrested’, blindfolded, strip searched,
* guards given equipment (uniform) and told to maintain order
* prisoners’ daily routines were heavily regulated by guards working in shifts
* dehumanisation of prisoners, eg wearing nylon stocking caps, degrading activities
* the study was planned to run for two weeks, but was stopped early

Question 2

Fewer and fewer people use single-use plastic items, such as water bottles and plastic
straws.
Using your knowledge of social influence processes in social change, explain why fewer
and fewer people are using single-use plastic items.
( 6 marks) explain - AO2

Answer 2

Minority influence processes:
* influence of environmental campaign groups/celebrities and how they may convince
the majority through consistency, commitment , flexibility
* the snowball effect – how behaviour/views on use of plastic change gradually over time

Conformity processes:
* normative social influence/compliance – the group norm among young people particularly is to care
about the environment; people who go against this norm (by ignoring the costs to the planet) risk
rejection from the group/are less likely to fit in
* informational social influence/internalisation – more is now known about the harmful effects of
single-use plastic items on the environment/climate change, people may have become convinced by
such evidence.

Question 3

Discuss legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience.
(8 marks) Dicuss - AO1 and AO3

Answer 3

when a person recognises their own and other’s positions in a social hierarchy
* leading to recognition of the authority figure’s right to issue a demand
* legitimacy is increased by visible symbols of authority, eg uniform
* legitimacy of setting, order, system (environment)

Shown by:
Bushman (1988)
-researcher in uniform received more obediance compared to normal outfit or beggar
-people claimed she appeared to have authority

AO3:
-supports real life obediance
- if people authorise another person to make judgments for them about what is allowed
their moral values are no longer relevant to their actions, so if directed they will engage in immoral actions
-there no matter how destructive actions are legitimacy makes people obey without question.