Social Psychology L6

Question 1

What are the different facets of social influence?

Answer 1

1. Social facilitation
2. De-individuation
3. Conformity
4. Obedience

Question 2

What is social facilitation?

Answer 2

How the presence of other people impacts us

Question 3

What are some effects of social facilitation?

Answer 3

• we are more likely to laugh if others are laughing
• the larger crowd to more we eat
• cockroaches run faster in the presence of other cockroaches
• diffusion of responsibility

Question 4

How does the presence of other people influence performance at simple and complex tasks?

Answer 4

Schmitt (1986) found that people perform better at simple tasks when others are present, but worse at complex tasks.

Question 5

Describe the drive theory of facilitation

Answer 5

Zajonc (1980), the presence of others makes us better at things that we are good at - if our dominant response is appropriate, but makes us worse at things we are bad at - if our dominant response is inappropriate (anxiety)

Question 6

Describe the experimental evidence which supports the Drive Theory of Faciliation.

Answer 6

Micheals et al. (1982), accuracy of good pool players increased from 71% to 80% in the presence of others, the accuracy of bad pools players decreased from 35% to 25%.

Question 7

Describe the Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 7

The idea that the larger the size of the group, the less people feel an individual responsibility to do something.

Question 8

Describe the case of Kitty Genovese

Answer 8

Reportedly struggled with her killer for 30 minutes, was seen being stabbed by a reported 43 people. No one phoned the police or intervened.

Question 9

Latene and Darley found that…

Answer 9

When on their own, 75% of participants reacted immediately to smoke coming out of a nearby vent. When in a big group, only 1% of participants reacted.

Question 10

Is the idea of the Diffusion of Responsibility accurate?

Answer 10

It seems that a lot of practical, real world experimental evidence indicates that it plays a far smaller role then initially thought - people generally come to other peoples aid if they need it.

Question 11

Describe the idea of Deindividuation

Answer 11

When people are surrounded by others they feel a sense of anonymity. This loss of self-awareness can work to remove inhibitions surrounding impulses, most often resulting in antisocial behavior.

Question 12

Describe experimental evidence showing the effects of Deindividuation.

Answer 12

Zimbardo (1970) found that when wearing the ku kluz klan outfit, people become more more aggressive. Thereby concluded that anonymity leads to aggression.
Beaman et al. (1979) found that on halloween, people, when people are watching themselves in a mirror, fewer trick or treaters take extra lollies (12% vs 34%)

Question 13

Describe Solomon Asch’s experiment about conformity.

Answer 13

One person, and 9 actors have to match one line to another in a set of three. When all 9 actors give an intentionally wrong answer, 75% of participants went along with the others and gave an answer which they knew was wrong.

Question 14

Can social influence change attitudes?

Answer 14

Yes. According to Newcomb, who looked at conservative students going to a liberal college in america and found that they became much more liberal over the course of their degree.

Question 15

Perhaps the most famous experiments demonstrating obedience are…

Answer 15

The Stanford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo (1971)

The Milgram Experiment (1974) 66% of participants administered the highest shock.