Week 8 - Social Psychology Flashcards
Briefly describe the focus of social psychology.
Social psychology examines how individuals are influenced by the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of others. It seeks to understand social interaction and the factors that shape individual and group behaviour within social contexts.
What are the six principles of persuasion identified by Cialdini?
Cialdini’s six principles of persuasion are: Reciprocation, Social Proof, Commitment and Consistency, Liking, Authority, and Scarcity. These principles highlight the psychological mechanisms that influence individuals to comply with requests or be persuaded by others.
Explain the difference between the foot-in-the-door and door-in-the-face techniques.
The foot-in-the-door technique involves securing a small commitment first, which increases the likelihood of compliance with a larger subsequent request. In contrast, the door-in-the-face technique starts with a large, unreasonable request that is likely to be rejected, followed by a smaller request that seems more reasonable and is more likely to be accepted.
What was the primary objective of Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiments?
Milgram’s obedience experiments aimed to investigate the extent to which individuals would obey an authority figure’s instructions, even when those instructions conflicted with their personal conscience. He wanted to understand the psychological mechanisms underlying obedience to authority
Briefly summarize the key findings of the Milgram experiment.
The Milgram experiment found that a surprisingly high proportion of participants (65%) were willing to administer what they believed were potentially lethal electric shocks to a “learner” simply because they were instructed to do so by an authority figure. This demonstrated the powerful influence of situational factors on obedience.
What were some ethical concerns raised by Milgram’s research?
Milgram’s research raised ethical concerns about the potential psychological distress experienced by participants who believed they were inflicting harm on others. The study sparked debates about the use of deception and the potential for psychological harm in research.
Did Milgram find any gender differences in obedience levels?
Milgram’s original studies did not find significant gender differences in obedience levels. Subsequent research has yielded mixed findings regarding gender differences in obedience.
Identify three factors that Milgram found to increase obedience in his experiments.
Three factors that increased obedience in Milgram’s experiments included: reduced personal responsibility for the participant, decreased focus on the pain of the “learner,” and the increased presence of a legitimate authority figure.
What is the difference between compliance and obedience?
Compliance refers to responding favourably to a request, while obedience specifically involves following direct commands from an authority figure. Both involve yielding to influence, but obedience implies a stronger power dynamic.
