Social Psychology Flashcards
What is obedience?
A form of social influence in which an individual follows a given order.
This is issued by an authority figure who has the power to punish the individual if the order is not followed.
What is the autonomous state?
When the individual is free to take responsibility for their own actions, we listen to our conscience and also take responsibility for said actions,
What is the agentic state?
When the individual believes that they are not responsible for their actions and believes to be acting as an agent for the authority figure.
Moral Strain
A state of mental discomfort when actions conflict with the individuals personal morality.
Milgram 1974 Agency Theory
AO1
- As humans our natural state is autonomous, we believe we hold responsibility for our actions
- When we pass on the responsibility for our actions, we shift into agentic state – this is referred to as the agentic shift.
- In the agentic state we perceive ourselves as agents for others therefore we do not accept responsibility.
- The agentic state can be disagreeable with our own morals and cause moral strain.
Social Impact Theory
The extent to which peoples real/imagined presence can alter the way we think/feel/act. -- Impact is determined by 1. Number of sources 2. Strength 3. Immediacy during any interaction
Bibb Latane
Social Impact Theory AO1
- Obedience stems from other people’s pressure and social forces.
- Social Forces increase the likelihood of obedience.
Strength- Importance/Status of group.
Immediacy- Recent instruction.
Number- How many give order.
Bibb Latane
Social Impact Theory AO1
Psychosocial Law
Social influences only increase obedience up to a set point
– once a set number of police at a football game reached, more police dont have an effect
Bibb Latane
Social Impact Theory AO1
Divisional Effect
Social impact is decreased if theres more targets then sources.
multiplication vs division of impact
Number of targets influenced affects the source
Social Forces
when a source is affecting the target the impact of the social influence is a function of the strength immediacy and number of sources compared to targets.
Strength of source
Can be determined by age, authority
Immediacy of source
The closer the source is, the more effective it will be
Number of sources
Psychosocial Law
The more sources there are social infludence will increase, but at a decreasing rate.
Internal locus of control
They believe things are results of their own actions and are less influenced by others.
External locus of control
They believe things are out of their control - due to external factors such as fate.
Authoritarian Personality
When people are preprogrammed to respect authority figures and as a result are more likely to obey.
Gender
Milgram found that male and females obedience was identical having 65% obedience and 27.5% breaking of at 300V
Prejudice
is an extreme, unfavourable attitude associated with 3 negative components:
cognitive - the stereotypes we hold
affective - feelings of hostility and hatred
behavioural - displayed as assault, avoidance, joke-making and discrimination
Realistic conflict theory
Sherif
The idea that limited resources lead to conflict between groups and result in increased prejudice and discrimination
Superordinate goals
shared goals that override differences among people and require their cooperation
Culture
Cultures can be divided into two individualistic and collectivist. Collectivist cultures tend to behave as a collective group based on interdependance meaning cooperation and compliance is important for the stability of the group.
