social influence (pmt)

define social influence

the process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours

define legitimacy of authority

an explanation for obedience which suggests we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us due to the position of power that they hold within the social hierarchy

identify 3 features of an authoritarian personality

• submissive to superiors

• dismissive of inferiors

• highly prejudiced

explain how an authoritarian personality develops

• having a harsh parenting style in childhood consisting of strict discipline, criticisms of failings, and impossibly high standards.

• the child cannot express their feelings to their parents, so they displace these to those they deem weaker (scapegoating)

which scale measures the authoritarian personality

the F-scale

give some limitations of the F-scale

• has acquiescence bias - all questions worded in same direction

• politically biased - very right wing, so doesn’t account for left-wing authoritarianism

what does Milgram’s original study tell us abou