A level aqa psychology topic 1 social influence

• What was the main focus of Asch's study?

  The conformity rates of people in a group judging the length of lines
• How did Asch's study differ from Jenys' study?

  Asch's study had a clear answer regarding line lengths, while Jenys' study involved guessing the number of beans
• What was the conformity rate found in Asch's study?

  33%
• What are the three types of conformity mentioned in the study material?

  Compliance, Identification, Internalisation
• What is compliance in the context of conformity?

  Compliance is when individuals make decisions to gain approval or avoid disapproval from a group.
• What is internalisation in the context of conformity?

  Internalisation occurs when individuals accept influence because the behavior aligns with their own value system.
• What are the four ethical principles for researchers to consider when conducting a study?

  • Respect
  • Competence
  • Responsibility
  • Integrity
• What is required for participants to consent to a study?

  Participants must give consent, and if under 16, a parent or guardian must consent.
• What is the role of deception in research studies?


  Participants cannot be lied to about the study, but must be told as few lies as possible.
• What is debriefing in research studies?

  Debriefing involves informing participants about the study and allowing them to ask questions.
• What rights do participants have regarding withdrawal from a study?

  Participants must be informed of their right to withdraw at any point and to withdraw their data later.
• What is the importance of anonymity and confidentiality in research?

  Participants have the right to remain anonymous and confidentiality must not be breached unless in exceptional circumstances.
• What is the researcher’s responsibility regarding the protection of participants?

  Researchers must protect participants from any kind of mental or physical harm during the study.
• What ethical issue did Asch's study face regarding deception?

  Asch deceived participants by not informing them about the confederates.
• What psychological harm did participants experience in Asch's study?

  Participants experienced stress from the need to conform to the confederates' incorrect answers.
• How did the historical context of the Cold War affect Asch's study?

  During the Cold War, people were afraid to stand out, which may have increased conformity levels.
• What are the variations of Jenys study into informational social influence?

  • Guessing the number of beans in a jar and conforming to others' answers.
  • Looking up at the sky in a public place and causing others to conform.
• What happens to conformity rates when a participant has an ally in Asch's experiment?

  The rate of conformity decreases when a participant has an ally who gives the correct answer.
• How does task difficulty affect conformity rates?

  An increase in task difficulty can lead to a decrease in conformity rates, but may also increase conformity in some cases.
• What was the payment for participants in Zimbardo's prison experiment?

  Participants were paid $15 per day.
• What happened on the second morning of Zimbardo's experiment?

  There was a rebellion against the experiment and the prisoners.
• What effect did the rebellion have on prisoner 8612?

  Prisoner 8612 was put in solitary confinement as punishment for the rebellion.
• How did prisoners conform to social norms in Zimbardo's study?

  Prisoners became more rebellious and displayed the 'screw-you effect'.
• How did guards conform to social norms in Zimbardo's study?

  Guards mocked the prisoners and became more aggressive towards them.
• What ethical issue did Zimbardo's study face regarding participant protection?

  Zimbardo did not protect participants from physical and psychological harm.
• What was the issue with consent in Zimbardo's study?

  Participants consented but were not fully aware of how severe the experiment would become.
• What was a methodological limitation of Zimbardo's study?

  The study involved only 24 male students, making it hard to generalize the results.
• What was the main finding of Moscovici's study on minority influence?

  A smaller group can influence a larger group if they are consistent and unanimous.
• What are the strengths of Moscovici's study?

  Confounding variables were reduced by deceiving participants into believing it was a visual perception test.
• What are the limitations of Moscovici's study?

  The study used only women, was a lab experiment, and involved artificial tasks, making it less generalizable.
• What are the key factors in minority influence?

  • Consistency: A consistent minority can lead the majority to reassess their views.
  • Commitment: Demonstrating certainty and courage can influence the majority.
  • Flexibility: Willingness to compromise is more effective than rigid arguments.
• How did the suffragettes demonstrate commitment in their movement?

  Suffragettes showed commitment by refusing to compromise, being arrested, and participating in hunger strikes.
• What role did flexibility play in the suffragettes' movement?

  Flexibility allowed certain women to vote while others remained barred, showing adaptability in their approach.
• What is obedience in the context of social influence?

  Obedience is a type of social influence where someone acts in response to a direct order from an authority figure.
• What ethical issues were present in Milgram's study?

  Participants were deceived, not fully protected from harm, and all were male, making it less generalizable.
• What is the consequence of being too flexible in negotiations?

  You will be considered inconsistent
• When should shifts be made in negotiations?

  Shifts should be made late in negotiations rather than earlier
• What are the three key elements in the suffragettes movement?

  • Consistency: All wanted the same goal (votes for women), coordinated marches, and repeated messages.
  • Commitment: No compromise, faced arrests, and engaged in hunger strikes.
  • Flexibility: Some women were allowed to vote while others were barred based on different factors.
• What is obedience in the context of social influence?

  Obedience is a type of social influence whereby someone acts in response to a direct order from a perceived authority figure
• What were the ethical concerns in Milgram's study on obedience?

  • Participants were deceived.
  • Participants were not protected from all harm; three experienced seizures.
  • Participants were properly debriefed.