Section 1. Obedience and Conformity

Aim of Social Psychology

The aim is to be able to control the influences on us in everyday life

Social Influences Factors

Relationships, Age, Gender, Race, Religion

Specific Social Influence Factors

Clothing, Makeup, Social media. Vaping, Drinking

The Continuum of Social Influence

Obedience - Compliance - Conformity - Independence - Assertiveness - Defiance

Dispositional Factors

Personality Characteristics

Situational Factors

Surrounding People or Events

Experimental Factors

Manipulated IV, Control and Experimental Group, Can control of extraneous variables, Random Allocation

Observational Factors

Naturally Occurring IV, No control over extraneous variables, No Random Allocation

Qualitative Factors

No IV

Experimental Ad and Dis

Can control variables, Can manipulate IV, Low ecological validity, Unethical sometimes, Expensive to carry out, Can replicate again, High Causality

Obedience

A form of social influence when an individual responds to a direct order, usually from an authority figure

Terms Associated with Obedience

Personal Responsibility, Peer Support, De-individuation, Prestige or status of the Authority figure, Legitimacy of the Authority figure, Proximity to the Authority figure, Status of the location

Milgram’s Study - The Teacher

→ Teacher (participant) - presenting the words to the learner and if the answer is wrong, punishment occurs. The electric shocks increase as more errors occur up to 450 volts

Milgram’s Study - The Learner

→ Learner (confederate) - purposely gets the answers wrong. As part of the act, they ask the teacher to stop the punishment and becomes more agonised.

Milgram’s Study - The Authority Figure

→ Authority Figure - white lab coat for status, next to the teacher, encouraging them to continue with the questions by saying things like “Please continue, you have no choice, you must go on, it is critical you continue, the experiment requires you to continue”

Milgram’s Study - The Results

65% of participants (teachers) continued to the highest level of voltage (450 volts) whereas all managed to reach 300 volts. The general consensus from experts beforehand is that only 4% of participants would go to 300 volts.

Milgram’s Study - Anonymity

→ Anonymity occurred in Milgram’s experiments, as the teacher was unable to see the learner being shocked, a factor increases de-individuation

Milgram’s Study - Personal Responsibility

Personal responsibility was decreased and placed on the authority figure, perhaps explaining why so many people continued to administer high level shocks

De-individuation

The person loses a sense of identity and behaves in different ways from normal. Often it’s innocent behaviour but not always.

Importance of Social Influence on Obedience

When acting as a group, the influence of others upon yourself cause obedience to be higher or lower depending on the situation

Situational vs Dispositional Factors in Regards to Obedience

Situational factors are more prominent in regards to obedience than dispositional factors

Definition of Conformity

A form of social influence where individuals yield to group pressure and ‘A change in behaviour or belief as a result of real or imagined group pressure’

Types of Conformity

Compliance, Identification and Internalisation

Define Compliance

A public change in behaviour to be more like the majority, however, internally no change in original beliefs, values or ways to act. This is the Shallowest level of conformity

Define Identification

Taking on the views of individuals or groups we admire (changes public and private behaviour and beliefs only when with a certain group, keeping own opinion when you are on your own). This is the Middle level of conformity

Define Internalisation

A true change of beliefs → believing a group is right in their actions, so one will adjust their behaviours and beliefs accordingly. This is the Deepest level of conformity

Why do people conform?

Due to Normative Social Influence and Informational Social Influence

Define Normative Social Influence

When a person conforms to be accepted or belong to a group. This relates to Compliance and Identification (short term changes)

Define Informational Social Influence

When a person conforms to gain knowledge or because they believe that someone else is ‘right’. This relates to Internalisation (long term changes)

Individual Characteristics of Conformity

Culture, low status, low and high self monitors

Define High Self Monitor

Form of impression management (masking) where the person organises how other people view them. A H.S.M almost constantly watches other peoples behaviour and tries to be like them

Define Low Self Monitor

When you value their individual beliefs more than the opinions of the group

What factors affect the level of conformity?

Individual differences, Size of the Group → increased, Lack of Group Unanimity (agreement) → decreased, Difficulty of Task → increased, Answer in Private → decreased, Anonymity → decreased, Status of Majority Group → increased