Topic 1: Social

Question 1

Give the key question for social psychology.

Key question

Answer 1

What makes people commit acts of terrorism against fellow human beings?

Question 2

Explain what is meant by “terrorism”.

Key question

Answer 2

the use or threat of action to influence a government or intimidate the public for a political or religious cause.

Question 3

Why is this an important key question for today’s society?

Key question

Answer 3

On a social level, terrorism affects our public safety.
On an individual level, terrorism affects our quality and enjoyment of life.

Question 4

What is meant by the term obedience?

Obedience

Answer 4

Following direct orders from someone in authority. For example, obedience is a form of social influence/ people who are obedient may be in the agentic state.

Question 5

What was the aim of Milgram’s original study.

Milgram

Question 6

Where was Milgram’s experiment carried out?

Answer 6

Yale University

Question 7

What were ppt told the study was about?

Milgram

Answer 7

To see the effect of punishment on learning.

Question 8

What did the experimenter do to encourage the ppts to carry on in Milgram’s studies?

Answer 8

They had 4 promts:
“Please continue”
“The experiment requires that you continue”
“It is absolutely essential that you continue”
“You have no other choice, you must go on”

Question 9

What is the Autonomous State?

Answer 9

When we act as individuals and of our own free will. We make our own decisions and we follow our conscience .
We take responsibility for our actions.

Question 10

What is the Agentic State?

Answer 10

When we give up our free will in order to follow the orders of an authority figure.
We become an ‘agent’ of the authority figure and defer responsibility onto them.

Question 11

What is Moral Strain?

Answer 11

Negative feelings we experience when pressured to do something that goes against our values and moral compass. Conflict between autonomous and agentic state.

Question 12

Who proposed the Social Impact Theory?

Answer 12

Bibb Latané

Question 13

What is an Internal Locus of Control?

Answer 13

The belief that you are in control of what you do and what happens to you.

Take greater responsibility for their actions.

Less likely to be obedient as they believe they can control their own actions.

Question 14

What is an External Locus of Control?

Answer 14

The belief that what happens to you is determined more by the situation and people around them, circumstances they believe are out of their control.

Take less responsibility for their actions.

More likely to be obedient as they believe behaviour is out of their control.

Question 15

Who proposed Social Identity Theory?

Answer 15

Taijfel and Turner (1979)

Question 16

What does Social Identity theory propose about prejudice?

Answer 16

The mere existence of 2 groups can cause conflict.

Question 17

What are the 3 processes in Social Identity Theory?

Answer 17

Social categorisation
Social Identification
Social Comparison

Question 18

What is Social Categorisation?

Answer 18

The process of separating individuals into one of two groups: in-group or out-group.
SIT says this is a basic characteristic of human thought.
Does not need competition.

Question 19

What is Social Identification?

Answer 19

It is the process of showing your identification with the group.
They might take on the beliefs, norms and attitudes of the in-group along with the way they dress or talk.

Question 20

What is Social Comparison?

Answer 20

The individual’s identity becomes linked to the identity of the in-group. People start to see their in-group as better than the out-group.

Question 21

What is In-group favouristism?

Answer 21

Showing preferential treatment to members of the in-group. Seeing in-group members as superior to out-group members.

Achievements are attributed to internal factors (eg because they are more intelligent)

Failures are attributed to external factors (eg situational factors)

Question 22

What is out-group bias?

Answer 22

Discrimination towards members of the out-group. May react with fear, hostility, suspicion or contempt.

Achievements are attributed to external factors.
Failures are attributed to internal factors.

Question 23

What did Realistic Conflict Theory propose about prejudice?

Answer 23

That prejudice arises from conflict between groups.

Question 24

What did RCT says created conflict?

Answer 24

Competition for the same scarce/ valued resources.

Question 25

What did Sherif believe could reduce inter-group hostility?

Answer 25

Superordinate goals