Social Psych - JKW Flashcards
List three positives for deception in psychological research
Experimental control
Efficiency
Adventure
List three limitations of deception in psychological research
- Should be last resort only
- Honesty/transparency/autonomy are not met
- Subject pool contamination potential
Give a brief definition of the impartial spectator (Adam Smith)
We can never survey our own sentiments and motives, we can never form any judgement concerning them; unless we remove ourselves, as it were, from our own natural station, and endeavour to view them as at a certain distance from us.
Briefly describe the veil of ignorance relative to individuals within a society
No one knows his place in society, his class position or social status; nor does he know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence and strength, and the like
What is the greatest equal liberty principle?
Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all
What is the
a - difference principle?
b- Opportunity principle?
Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both:
a - To the greatest benefit of the least advantaged(…)
b - Attached to offices and positions open to all(…)
If something is a transcdental situation, what does this mean?
It does not allow for comparisons between feasible alternatives.
Faravelli (2007) performed a laboratory study on distributive justice, briefly explain the study.
Two ‘people’ (Robinson and Friday). 24 trees altogether. How should the plants be distributed between the two people? Friday can have 120 fruits per year from any plant only on their island. Robinson can have 20 fruits per plant whatever island the plant is on. How best to distribute the plants?
Faravelli’s (2007) study on distributing plants between islanders had four possible solutions, what were these?
- Split the trees equally (12 each = 240 to 720)
- Equality = Try to maximise the minimum
- Maximin = Try to maximise the minimum
- Utilitarian = Maximise the average
Faravelli (2007) asked students of different disciplines and ages what they believed was the best way to deal with the islanders, how did results differ between groups?
Economics freshmen = Mostly equal split, slight favour for maximin.
Economics seniors = Maximin the clear preferred choice.
Sociology freshmen = Equality most popular, high percentage for maximin aswell.
Sociology seniors = Same level of preference as soc freshmen, slightly lower for utilitarian but overall equality preferred.
When Faravellis 2007 story was adjusted to include information about the islanders vulnerabilities (eg injured in shipwreck) how did the data change?
Each of the four groups showed a very clear preference for maximin.
What does maximin mean?
Try to maximise the minimum
When Faravellis 2007 story was adjusted to include information about the islanders personalities (eg laziness) how did the data change?
All groups showed preference for the utilitarian split.
What does utilitarian mean?
Maximise the average people get
How was Faravellis data adjusted when details of minimum survival requirements (floor) were included?
All groups had a lower selection of utilitarian, with a high number choosing utilitarian + floor.
Frohlich, Oppenheimer & Eavey (1987) performed a study on distributive principles. Briefly explain.
29 groups with 5 participants each in ‘micro-societies’.
They had the choice of four principles for income distribution;
1. Difference principle (Rawls): Maximise floor income
2. Utilitarianism (Harsanyi): Maximise the average income
3. Mixed 1: Maximise average income (floor constraint)
4. Mixed 2: Maximise average income (range constraint).
Of the 29 groups; 25 choose option 3 and 4 groups chose option 2.
Frohlich, Oppenheimer & Eavey (1987) results (25 groups for MTA floor constraint) shows what, with regards to the veil of ignorance?
It appears that the ‘veil of ignorance’ format permits the group to reach stable decisions in which they have considerable confidence.
What is an example of the veil of ignorance ruling in constitutional law?
A law that applies in the future.
Robert Nozick suggests what could be an issue for maximising the average in his book ‘Anarchy, State and Utopia’?
Maximising the average utility allows a person to kill everyone else if that would make him ecstatic, and so happier than average
What should we not judge distribution by?
Its end state
What is entitlement theory? (Robert Nozick, 1974)
For people meeting together behind a veil of ignorance to decide who gets what, knowing nothing about any special entitlements people may have, will treat anything to be distributed as manna from heaven.
Entitlement theory;
Acquisition and transfer of holdings. List the three principles for these.
- A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in acquisition is entitled to that holding
- A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in transfer, from someone else entitled to the holding, is entitled to the holding.
- No one is entitled to a holding except by (repeated) applications of 1 and 2.
Entitlement theory: Explain redistribution and taxation
From the point of view of an entitlement theory, redistribution is a serious matter indeed, involving, as it does, the violation of peoples rights. (An exception is those takings that fall under the principle of the rectification of injustices). Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labour.
Norton and Ariely (2011) performed a study on preferences for income distributions, what was found true for Americans in this study?
Americans preferred Sweden
Frohlich and Oppenheimer (1990) performed a study on the preferences for redistribution principles after producing payoffs, what was the most preferred principle?
Maximising the average (floor constraint)
