Social influence psychology

• What are the three types of conformity according to Asch (1958)?

  • Compliance: Temporary behavior change to fit in
  • Identification: Behavior and private values change only in the group
  • Internalization: Permanent change of personal opinions to match the group
• What is normative social influence (NSI)?

  Driven by the desire to be liked and avoid rejection
• What is informational social influence (ISI)?

  Driven by the desire to be correct and look to the majority for guidance
• What was the overall conformity rate in Asch's critical trials?

  32%
• What percentage of participants conformed at least once in Asch's study?

  75%
• What was the conformity rate when there was one Confederate in Asch's study?

  3%
• How did the presence of a dissenting Confederate affect conformity rates in Asch's study?

  The conformity rate dropped to 5.5%
• What effect did task difficulty have on conformity in Asch's study?

  Increased ambiguity led to increased conformity
• What are the challenges in separating the influences of NSI and ISI in real-life situations?

  Individuals may seek accurate information and social approval simultaneously
• What are the evaluations of Asch's study regarding conformity?

  • Supports NSI as many conformed to avoid standing out
  • Difficulty in separating NSI and ISI influences
  • High internal validity due to controlled conditions
  • Lacks temporal validity as conformity rates may vary over time
  • Lacks mundane realism due to the simplicity of the task
• What was the main finding of Bond's meta-analysis of Asch's line judgment task?

  Higher rates of conformity in collectivist cultures
• What were the key features of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?

  • 24 male students assigned as guards or prisoners
  • Realistic arrest and treatment of prisoners
  • Guards had complete control and authority
  • Experiment canceled early due to stress and abuse
• What did Zimbardo's study demonstrate about social roles?

  Social roles can significantly influence behavior
• What was the reason for the early cancellation of Zimbardo's experiment?

  Fears for the prisoners' mental health
• What are the evaluations of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  • Well-controlled initial setup
  • Random allocation of roles
  • Insights into cruelty in institutional settings
  • Ethical concerns regarding psychological harm
  • Zimbardo's dual role may have biased results
• What is the agentic state according to Milgram?

  A state of mind where individuals feel they are not responsible for their actions
• What is the legitimacy of authority?

  Acceptance of authority figures based on social hierarchy
• What was the maximum voltage participants were instructed to deliver in Milgram's study?

  450 volts
• What happened to obedience rates when the location of Milgram's study changed?

  Obedience dropped to 47.6% in a rundown area
• What are the evaluations of Milgram's research on obedience?

  • Supports the agentic state and legitimacy of authority
  • Methodological flaws in the shock task
  • Lacks ecological validity and mundane realism
  • Ethical concerns regarding participant distress
• What percentage of nurses obeyed the order in Hofling's study?

  95% of nurses obeyed
• What did Sheridan and King's study demonstrate about obedience?

  54% of males and 100% of females gave the highest shock level to a puppy
• What was the obedience rate in Bman’s field experiment when the researcher was dressed as a guard?

  89%
• What is the significance of uniforms in obedience studies?

  • Uniforms provide a visible symbol of legitimacy of authority
  • Influence participants' willingness to obey
  • Can affect the perception of authority figures
• What was the non-US obedience rate found in the Milgram study?

  65.9%
• What are the ethical criticisms of the Milgram study?

  It caused distress and used deception.
• What methodological criticisms are associated with the Milgram study?

  It lacked ecological validity and had demand characteristics.
• What did Huffling's 1966 study find regarding nurses' obedience?

  21 out of 22 nurses obeyed the order to give a double dose of medication.
• What does high ecological validity mean in the context of Huffling's study?

  The study was conducted in a real hospital setting with a familiar task.
• What percentage of males and females gave the highest shock level in Sheridan and King's 1972 study?

  54% of males and 100% of females.
• What does the term "visible symbol of legitimacy" refer to in Bman’s 1974 study?


  Uniforms provide a visible symbol of authority.
• What is the authoritarian personality according to Adorno?

  It is shaped by strict parenting and leads to high obedience.
• What questionnaire did Adorno use to study the authoritarian personality?

  The F-scale (Fascism scale).
• What factors does the F-scale measure?

  It measures authoritarian submission, uncritical attitude towards authority, and power toughness.
• How did Elms and Milgram's 1966 study relate obedience to the F-scale?

  Obedient males scored higher on the F-scale than disobedient males.
• What are the alternate situational explanations of obedience mentioned?

  The agentic state and legitimacy of authority.
• What is the agentic state in the context of obedience?

  It is a psychological state where individuals see themselves as agents of an authority figure.
• What does locus of control refer to?

  It refers to the factors people believe control their actions.
• What percentage of participants with an internal locus of control refused to continue in Holland's 1967 study?

  37%
• How does an internal locus of control affect resistance to social influence?

  It enables individuals to see themselves as responsible and resist social influence.