Year 11 ATAR Psych Task 6 Social Influence Test

Kelman’s Social Influence Theory

Kelman said social influence happens through compliance identification and internalisation. Each level shows how deeply a person accepts a belief or behaviour. It explains why some conformity is temporary and some becomes permanent.

Compliance

Compliance is publicly changing behaviour to gain approval or avoid punishment. Private beliefs stay the same. The behaviour stops when pressure is removed.

Identification

Identification happens when someone changes behaviour to be accepted by a group or role model. The behaviour lasts only while the group is present. When the group disappears the behaviour fades.

Internalisation

Internalisation is a deep permanent change in beliefs. The person adopts the attitude because it fits their values. The change continues even without group pressure.

Normative influence

Normative influence is conforming to be liked or accepted. People follow group norms to avoid rejection. It is linked to compliance.

Informational influence

Informational influence is conforming because others are seen as more knowledgeable. It occurs in uncertain or difficult situations. It is linked to internalisation.

Conformity

Conformity is changing behaviour or beliefs due to group pressure. People conform to fit in or to be correct. It can be public or private.

Group size

Conformity increases as group size grows but only up to three or four people. After that, adding more people does not increase conformity. Small groups create the strongest pressure.

Unanimity

Conformity is strongest when the group is unanimous. One ally dramatically reduces pressure to conform. A single dissenter breaks the social pressure and increases independence.

Task difficulty

Harder tasks increase conformity because people rely more on others when unsure. This strengthens informational influence. Clear tasks reduce conformity because people trust their own judgement.

Culture

Collectivist cultures show higher conformity because they value group harmony. Individualistic cultures show lower conformity because they value independence. Cultural norms shape how people respond to group pressure.

Public vs private responding

Conformity increases when answers are public because people fear judgement. Private responding reduces conformity because there is no social pressure. Public settings increase normative influence.

Deindividuation

Deindividuation is losing personal identity in a group, feeling anonymous and less accountable. It increases impulsive behaviour and conformity to group norms.

Social loafing

Social loafing is reduced effort in groups because people rely on others to carry the workload. It increases conformity because people follow group behaviour instead of acting independently. It is strongest in large groups, low accountability, unclear roles, and low personal involvement.

Asch Aim

Asch wanted to investigate whether people would conform to a majority giving an obviously incorrect answer. He aimed to see how social pressure affects simple decision making. The study focused on the strength of group influence

Asch Method

1. Fifty male students were placed with seven confederates who gave predetermined answers.

2. Participants judged line lengths across eighteen trials.

3. Twelve trials were critical where confederates all gave the same incorrect answer.

Asch Findings

1. Seventy five percent conformed at least once.

2. Participants conformed on thirty seven percent of critical trials.

3. Twenty five percent never conformed and many felt pressure to agree even when they knew the group was wrong.

Asch Contribution

Asch showed that people conform even when the correct answer is obvious. The study demonstrated normative influence and group pressure. It helped explain real world peer pressure and group decision making.

Asch Limitations

The artificial lab setting reduces ecological validity. The sample was all male American students which limits generalisability. Conformity levels may differ across cultures and time periods.

Asch IV

The independent variable was the unanimous incorrect response of the confederates. This manipulated social pressure. The critical trials created strong group influence.

Asch DV

The dependent variable was whether the participant conformed by giving the same incorrect answer as the group. Conformity was measured across twelve critical trials.

Obedience

Obedience is following direct orders from an authority figure. It requires a hierarchy. The person giving the order has higher status.

Social response to authority

People change behaviour when instructions come from someone with legitimate power. Authority increases compliance with orders. This can override personal morals.

Agentic state

The agentic state is when a person shifts responsibility to an authority figure. They see themselves as an agent carrying out orders. This reduces feelings of guilt.

Autonomous state

The autonomous state is when a person takes responsibility for their own actions. They act independently. They make decisions based on personal morals.

Milgram Aim

Milgram wanted to investigate how far ordinary people would obey an authority figure even when harming another person. He was influenced by the Holocaust and wanted to understand obedience in extreme situations. The aim was to see whether people obey simply because an authority tells them to.

Milgram Method

• Lab experiment with 40 male participants aged 20 to 50.

• Participants were told it was a study on learning and memory.

• They were always given the role of teacher and the learner was a confederate.

• Teachers had to give shocks from fifteen to four hundred fifty volts for wrong answers.

• No real shocks were used and the learner followed a scripted set of complaints and silence.

• When teachers hesitated, the experimenter in a lab coat used prompts like “Please continue” to pressure obedience.

Milgram Findings

1. 65 per cent obeyed the maximum of four hundred fifty volts.

2. All participants went up to at least three hundred volts.

3. Many showed extreme stress but continued due to pressure from authority.

Milgram Variations

• Proximity of the learner — remote feedback Learner in another room, only heard protests. Obedience = 65%.

• Proximity of the learner — same room Learner moved into the same room, distress visible. Obedience = 40%.

• Proximity of the learner — touch proximity Teacher had to force learner’s hand onto shock plate. Obedience = 30%.

• Proximity of authority — experimenter absent Experimenter left the room and gave orders by phone. Obedience = 20.5%.

• Location — Yale University Prestigious setting. Obedience = 65%.

• Location — run‑down office Less legitimate setting. Obedience = 47.5%.

• Legitimacy of authority — ordinary person gives orders Experimenter replaced by a normal person. Obedience = 20%.

• Responsibility — another person administers shocks Teacher only instructs someone else to shock. Obedience = 92.5%.

Milgram Contribution

Milgram showed that situational factors strongly influence obedience. He proposed the agentic state theory explaining how people shift responsibility to authority. His work helps explain obedience in military, workplace, and historical contexts.

Milgram Limitations

The study caused psychological distress and used deception. The sample was all male Americans, which limits generalisability. The artificial lab setting reduces ecological validity.

Milgram IV

The independent variable was the instructions from the authority figure and the variations such as proximity, location, and legitimacy. These manipulated the level of pressure placed on participants.

Milgram DV

The dependent variable was the highest shock level the participant was willing to administer. This measured obedience.

Aim

The aim states what the study intends to investigate. It guides the research design. It must be clear and specific.

Independent variable

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher. It is the cause in a cause and effect relationship.

Dependent variable

The dependent variable is the outcome measured in the study. It shows the effect of the independent variable.

Control variables

Control variables are kept constant to ensure a fair test. They prevent interference with results.

Extraneous variables

Extraneous variables are uncontrolled factors that may affect the DV. They threaten validity.

Participant variables

Differences between participants such as age or mood. They can influence results.

Environmental variables

Noise temperature and time of day. They must be kept consistent.

Researcher variables

Researcher behaviour can influence participants. Standardisation reduces this risk.

Internal validity

Internal validity is whether the study measures what it intends to measure. High control increases it.

External validity

External validity is whether results can be generalised to other settings. Artificial tasks reduce it.

Test retest reliability

This checks consistency over time. Similar results show reliability.

Inter rater reliability

This checks consistency between observers. Agreement shows reliability.

Generalisability

Generalisability is how well results apply to the wider population. Representative samples increase it.

Protection from harm

Participants must not experience physical or psychological harm.

Informed consent

Participants must be told the nature of the study before agreeing.

Withdrawal rights

Participants can leave at any time.

Deception

Deception must be justified and explained in debriefing.

Confidentiality

Personal data must be kept private.

Privacy

Researchers must not invade personal space or collect private information without permission.

Voluntary participation

Participation must be freely chosen.

Debriefing

Participants must be told the true purpose of the study afterward.