Social Influence - Studies

Question 1

Asch

CONFORMITY

Answer 1

• 123 participants
• line comparison task
• 6 confederates
• confederates gave the right answer at the start, then began giving the wrong answers

RESULTS:

• 75% conformed at least once
• NSI was involved (participants wanted to avoid rejection)

Question 2

Asch - Variables

CONFORMITY

Answer 2

TASK DIFFICULTY: conformity increased (ISI)

UNANIMITY: conformity decreased (dissenter meant participants could behave independently)

GROUP SIZE:

• two confederates: 13.6%
• three confederates: 31.8%

Question 3

Zimbardo

CONFORMITY TO SOCIAL ROLES

Answer 3

STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT

• mock prison
• participants assigned guard or prisoner
• all participants conformed to their given social role

Question 4

Milgram

OBEDIENCE

Answer 4

• participants: teacher // confederate: learner
• participant asked to administer ‘electric shock’ is learner gave an incorrect answer
• learner eventually stopped responding
• researcher prodded participant to continue

RESULTS

• 12.5% stopped at 300V
• 65% continued to 450V

Question 5

Milgram - Situational Variables

Answer 5

PROXIMITY:
[original]- teacher and learner in same room
[variation]- touch proximity: 40%
- remote instruction: 20.5%

LOCATION:
[original]- university
[variation]- run down office block: 47.5%

UNIFORM:
[original]- grey lab coat
[variation]- ordinary clothes: 20%

Question 6

Adorno

DISPOSITIONAL FACTORS

Answer 6

• F scale

- Authoritarians scored highly on the F scale and identified with strong people

Question 7

Moscovici et al

MINORITY INFLUENCE

Answer 7

• 36 blue/green slides

CONDITION 1:

• confederates consistently said slides were green
• 32% gave the wrong answer at least once

CONDITION 2:

• confederates were inconsistent about slide colour
• 1.25% gave the wrong answer

CONDITION 3:

• control group
• participants gave the wrong answer 0.25% of the time

Question 8

Internalisation

Answer 8

when a person agrees with the group norms

Question 9

Identification

Answer 9

when we identify with a group we value

Question 10

Compliance

Answer 10

when we go along with a group

Question 11

Informational Social Influence

Answer 11

the desire to be right

Question 12

Normative Social Influence

Answer 12

the desire to be liked

Question 13

Agentic State

Answer 13

occurs when we act on behalf of another person and feel no personal responsibility

Question 14

Autonomous State

Answer 14

when an individual behaves according to their own principles and takes responsibility for their actions

Question 15

Agentic Shift

Answer 15

the shift from autonomy to being an ‘agent’

Question 16

Binding Factors

Answer 16

reduces the moral strain of obeying immoral orders

Question 17

Legitimate Authority

Answer 17

• we obey people at the top of a hierarchy

- we hand control to people we believe to be in authority