PP3: SOCIAL INFLUENCE EXAM PACK
Q'S
What does this best describe?
'Publicly changing behaviour whilst maintaining a different private view'
- compliance
Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of
conducting research into conformity in a laboratory?
- allows for better control of confounding and extraneous variables.
- which increases internal validity.
- therefore, producing more credible and valid results.
Outline two explanations of why people obey? (4 MARKS)
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY --> DISPOSITIONAL
- develops as a result of harsh parenting, we have a built up resentment that eventually
we displace.
- AP have a extreme submissiveness and respect for authority figures, making them
more likely to obey.
LEGITIMACY OF AUTHORITY --> SOCIAL/PSCY
If we perceive someone as being above us in the social hierarchy, which we are taught
to respect via socialisation, then we are more likely to enter an agentic state and carry
out their orders with a diminished sense of responsibility.
UNIFORM/LOCATION/PROXIMITY --> SITUATIONAL
Some psychologists criticise Milgram’s research into obedience to authority, in terms of
both methodological issues and ethical issues.
Explain two criticisms of Milgram’s research?
- lacks internal validity --> Orne and Holland (1968) / Perry (2013)
- good external validity --> Holfing (1966)
- research support --> beavouis (2012)
- ethical issues
outline one reason why we might resist the pressure to conform?
- LOCUS OF CONTROL
Our locus of control determines how much responsibility we feel for our actions and
their outcomes.
, ILOC --> responsibility for their actions, higher-intelligence and more likely to resist
orders.
ELOC --> feel that outcomes are independent of hard work and therefore feel
diminished responsibility for their actions.
- SOCIAL SUPPORT
Having an ally increases our confidence to resist. It reduces the legitimacy of the group,
avoiding the pressure of normative social influence.
Name three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority
- consistency --> diachronic/synchronic.
- commitment
- flexibility
Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer, but the
rest of the group would like to go on a beach holiday.
Briefly suggest how Marcus might use the three behaviours that you have identified in
your answer to part (a) to persuade his friends to go travelling
- CONSISTENCY
Repeatedly bring up going on the trip on seperate occasions over a length of time -->
shows diachronic consistency.
- COMMITMENT
He could show commitment by running a marathon to raise funds for the trip. This
shows dedication and displays the augmentation principle.
- FLEXIBLITY
Be open to compromise as not to appear dogmatic or unwilling to change.
Potentially agree to another location the friends suggest.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience
to authority. ( 4 marks )
- The authoritarian personality was first suggested by Adorno in 1950.
- Extreme submissiveness and respect towards authority, as well as a contempt for the
weak.
- Develops as a result of harsh parenting which leads to a built up, inexpressible,
resentment.
- A strength of the AP is that there is research support for some of the central ideas of
the theory.
- In 1966, Milgram and Elms gathered 20 participants from Milgram's baseline study and
had them take the f-scale test.
- they scored highly --> AP
- higher than 20 disobedient participants.
- this supports Adorno's idea that authoritarian personality makes people more obedient.
- LIMITED EXPLANATION --> pre-war Germany
Q'S
What does this best describe?
'Publicly changing behaviour whilst maintaining a different private view'
- compliance
Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of
conducting research into conformity in a laboratory?
- allows for better control of confounding and extraneous variables.
- which increases internal validity.
- therefore, producing more credible and valid results.
Outline two explanations of why people obey? (4 MARKS)
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY --> DISPOSITIONAL
- develops as a result of harsh parenting, we have a built up resentment that eventually
we displace.
- AP have a extreme submissiveness and respect for authority figures, making them
more likely to obey.
LEGITIMACY OF AUTHORITY --> SOCIAL/PSCY
If we perceive someone as being above us in the social hierarchy, which we are taught
to respect via socialisation, then we are more likely to enter an agentic state and carry
out their orders with a diminished sense of responsibility.
UNIFORM/LOCATION/PROXIMITY --> SITUATIONAL
Some psychologists criticise Milgram’s research into obedience to authority, in terms of
both methodological issues and ethical issues.
Explain two criticisms of Milgram’s research?
- lacks internal validity --> Orne and Holland (1968) / Perry (2013)
- good external validity --> Holfing (1966)
- research support --> beavouis (2012)
- ethical issues
outline one reason why we might resist the pressure to conform?
- LOCUS OF CONTROL
Our locus of control determines how much responsibility we feel for our actions and
their outcomes.
, ILOC --> responsibility for their actions, higher-intelligence and more likely to resist
orders.
ELOC --> feel that outcomes are independent of hard work and therefore feel
diminished responsibility for their actions.
- SOCIAL SUPPORT
Having an ally increases our confidence to resist. It reduces the legitimacy of the group,
avoiding the pressure of normative social influence.
Name three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority
- consistency --> diachronic/synchronic.
- commitment
- flexibility
Marcus wants to persuade his group of friends to go travelling in the summer, but the
rest of the group would like to go on a beach holiday.
Briefly suggest how Marcus might use the three behaviours that you have identified in
your answer to part (a) to persuade his friends to go travelling
- CONSISTENCY
Repeatedly bring up going on the trip on seperate occasions over a length of time -->
shows diachronic consistency.
- COMMITMENT
He could show commitment by running a marathon to raise funds for the trip. This
shows dedication and displays the augmentation principle.
- FLEXIBLITY
Be open to compromise as not to appear dogmatic or unwilling to change.
Potentially agree to another location the friends suggest.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience
to authority. ( 4 marks )
- The authoritarian personality was first suggested by Adorno in 1950.
- Extreme submissiveness and respect towards authority, as well as a contempt for the
weak.
- Develops as a result of harsh parenting which leads to a built up, inexpressible,
resentment.
- A strength of the AP is that there is research support for some of the central ideas of
the theory.
- In 1966, Milgram and Elms gathered 20 participants from Milgram's baseline study and
had them take the f-scale test.
- they scored highly --> AP
- higher than 20 disobedient participants.
- this supports Adorno's idea that authoritarian personality makes people more obedient.
- LIMITED EXPLANATION --> pre-war Germany
