WEEK 7

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

When peoples own responses (behaviour, attitude, judgment) are influenced by others actions

• You are following others, this is not want you want to do. Feel as though you need to conform to REAL or IMAGINED social pressures.
• Ex. Applause after a bad concert,

Public: Changing outward response. Applauding

Private: Oh maybe I didn’t understand the concert, I did like that one song. Altering ones owns attitudes/beliefs.

Question 2

Moderating Factors for Conformity

Answer 2

1. Group Size: more people, more likely you are to conform.
2. Unanimity
3. Cohensiveness
4. Status
5. Gender
6. Culture
7. Personality (need for individualization)

Question 3

Why do people conform?

Answer 3

1. Informational Social Influence: (Wanting to be right)

2. Normative Social Influence: (Wanting to be liked)

Question 4

Informational Social Influence

Answer 4

Conforming because we believe that others interpretations are more correct than our own.
WHEN…
1. Ambiguous situation (unsure of correct response) Ex. paying for parking.
2. Crisis situation
3. Others are ‘experts’
4. When getting it right is important

Question 5

Normative Social Influence

Answer 5

Confirming because we want others to like us and to belong

1. Evolutionary- Survival + Reproduction
2. Social rejection

Question 6

Darkside vs Upside of Conformity:

Answer 6

Dark: drinking, sex, drinking and driving, bullying, cheating, buying latest “must haves”

Up: Volunteering, academics, exercising, recycling

Question 7

Compliance

Answer 7

Definition:
- direct requests, implicit or explicit influence from others

Foot in the door: Small request leads to a larger request

Lowballing

Reciprocity Norm: Sending small gifts with requests for donations

Door in the face: Asking for really big things before you ask for the thing you want.

Illusion of Choice: Obviously inferior option. Ex. Unattractive menu items.

Question 8

Milgram Experiments

Answer 8

Randomly assigned as ‘teacher’ or ‘learner’
Teacher delivers electric shock if student makes a mistake. 30 switch 15 V increments
It is essential that you continue
63 participants delivered the max shock (450V)

Question 9

Why didn’t participants stop? Milligram

Answer 9

Status and Power of Authority - white lab coat

Transfer of Responsibility: Belief that the people giving them the instructions are responsible for the harm

Incremental Changes/ Foot in the door Principles: i’ve already issues 315 volts might as well do 330.

Question 10

Safeguards to prevent mindless obedience in society

Answer 10

Formal Laws: Soldiers do not have to obey unlawful orders.

Education: About milligram experience and mindless obedience. Telling people about these experiments before running similar ones increases the moral way people respond.

Question 11

Prosocial Behaviour

Answer 11

Random acts of kindness
Other Heroism: donating lottery winnings

Prosocial behaviour:

• any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person
• An act

Question 12

Altruism

Answer 12

• A motive

- Desire to help another even if it involves no benefit to oneself and can cost oneself

Question 13

3 Theories on why people help others

Answer 13

1. Social Norms
2. Evolutionary
3. Social Exchange Theory

Question 14

Social Norms- Reciprocity

Answer 14

Expectation to help someone in need
People in a different country- not included in the social norm.

Reciprocity: More likely to help those who help us (neighbours) “treat others as you would like them to treat you”

Question 15

Evolutionary Explanations

Answer 15

Drive to reproduce our genes
Kin Selection: Helping Kin survive/Reproduce
R * B > C
B= benefit to recipient
C= cost to altruist
R= Degree of relatedness between altruist and recipient

Question 16

Kin Selection Studies/ Reciprocal Altruism

Answer 16

More trust for people who look similar to you
People want to leave their money to relatives
Relatedness does not matter if the situation is nonthreatening

Question 17

Social Exchange Theory

Answer 17

People engage in interactions that maximize their own reward and minimize their costs

People will only help when the reward outweighs the cost of helping

Question 18

Altruism vs Benevolence:

Answer 18

Altruism: Only the recipient Gains
Benevolence: Both donor and recipient gain. Ex. Blood donation- feel like you saved a life.

Question 19

5 Personal Determinants of Prosocial Behaviour

Answer 19

1. Empathy: feelings of the other person rather than ones own distress.
2. Gender Differences- TYPE of help.
3. Socioeconomic Status Difference: Lower SES more empathy.
4. Cultural Differences. Tending to help in group members more than out-group members.
5. Mood Effects: Feel good, do good. Feel bad, do good–> to alleviate negative states.

Question 20

Situational Determinants of Prosocial Behaviour (3)

Answer 20

1. Number of people present (or assumed present)
   - Diffusion of responsibility
   - ambiguity and interpretation
2. Time pressure (noticing emergency)
3. Pluralistic Ignorance- everyone is helping so they don’t need me

Question 21

Five steps to helping in emergency situations (& corresponding ways to increase helping)
If you need help vs helping someone in need

Answer 21

1. Attract Noise/ Notice Event
2. Define as emergency / Notice event
3. Get someone to assume responsibility by isolating them/ assume personal responsibility
4. Tell the person what you need/ chose a way to help
5. Implement decision