Social Psychology - OBEDIENCE Flashcards
What is social influence?
The effect that other people have on our behaviour, emotions and attitudes.
What is obedience?
Following the orders of someone you believe to be in authority.
What is authority?
Power and control, a higher stautus.
How many nurses obeyed an order that was given over the phone? [HOFLING]
21 out of 22 obeyed.
What research method was used in Milgrams original study?
Lab experiment.
What is a strength of using a lab experiment?
The researcher can manipulate the independent variable.
What is a weakness of using a lab experiment?
There is low ecological validity.
What form of sampling was used?
Volunteer sampling.
What was standardised about the procedure?
- The same actor
- The same location
- The same number of switches.
Where did the procedure take place?
Yale University.
How many participants were there?
40 men.
What ages were the participants?
Between 20-50 years old.
What was Milgrams claim? [AGENCY THEORY]
Milgrams agency theory claims that people obey as they act as an agent of the authority figure, displacing responsibility of their actions onto them.
What is moral strain?
When an individual is given an order that goes against their moral values. They experience anxiety and distress.
What is an authority figure?
Someone who is seen as having a high status in society.
What is evolutionary basis of obedience?
Milgram concluded that society is hierarchical in nature, and obeying those in authority serves as an evolutionary benefits.
What is an autonomous state?
When the individual acts upon their own free will and takes personal responsibility for their actions. In this state, the individual is likely to dissent.
What is agentic state?
When an individual acts as an agent of authority figure, displacing responsibility of their actions onto the authority figure. In this state, the individuals are likely to obey.
What is agentic shift?
Some individuals experience this to overcome moral strain, when they switch from an autonomous state to an agentic state, displacing responsibility onto the authority.
What does reductionist mean?
If a theory is too simplistic, and ignores other contributing factors.
What are the situational factors?
- Proximity
- Status
What are the individual differences?
- Locus of control
- Authoritarian personality
What are the developmental factors?
- Gender
- Culture
What is a collectivist culture?
Behave as a collective group, meaning cooperation and compliances is important for the stability of the group.
What is an individualistic?
Behave independently and tend to resist compliance.
What does SIN represent?
- Strength
- Immediacy
- Number
What is Latanes social impact theory claim?
Claims that the greater strength, immediacy and number of the source of authority, the greater the impact on the target; more likely they are to obey.
What is a source?
The individual giving the order.
What is a target?
The individual receiving the order.
What are Latanes strengths? [STATUS]
- Authority
- Status
- Age
What are Latanes immediacy? [CLOSENESS]
- Proximity
- Status
What are Latanes numbers?
- Total number of targets
- Total number of sources
What does psychological law mean?
The impact will increase but will eventually level off [light situation].
How many participants obeyed in the ordinary man variation?
20% of participants.
How many participants obeyed in the telephonic instructions variation?
22.5% of participants.
How many participants obeyed in the run down office variation?
48% of participants.
