the process whereby a person changes their behaviours, attitudes and beliefs in order to fir in with others around them as a result of real or perceived pressure
Internalisation
conforming to a group because you accept their norms
you agree privately as well as publicly
permanent change
identification
a person is prepared to change their views to be accepted
Compliance
going along with a group publically but holding a different view privately
Identify two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo's prison study
participants became distress - whether or not this distress should have been anticipated
Zimbardo took part himself - his own behaviour affected the events which questions validity
Identify three variables affecting conformity in Asch's experiment
group size - he varied the number of confederates
unanimity - he sometimes arranged for confederates to give a different answer to the majority
task difficulty - he made the right answer less obvious by having lines of similar lengths
explain ways in which psychologists might address ethical issues in research
participants should be given the right to withdraw at the start; throughout the study; withdraw data at the end
participants should not be put in uncomfortable/embarrassing situations
participants should be fully debriefed at the earliest opportunity
Outline what is meant by legitimacy of authority
situational explanation for obedience
a person recognises their own position and other's position in society
legitimacy is increased by visible symbols of authority
we learn these behaviours through socialisation and accept that authority has the power to punish us
Outline what is meant by the agentic state
a person acts on behalf of an authority figure
they feel no personal responsibility or guilt for their actions
this is the opposite of the autonomous state where people act accordingly to their own principles
People usually experience an agentic shift in the presence of authority
Outline what is meant by authoritarian personality
dispositional explanation for obedience
people who are submissive of those perceived to be an authority figure and dismissive of those perceived of being below them in the social hierarchy
this is often a result of their upbringing
What causes the authoritarian personality
harsh upbringing
parents may offer conditional love and be cold or strict
they have respect for their parents and do not share their discontent with them
this causes them to displace feelings of low self esteem onto another target