SOCIAL INFLUENCE

• Define compliance (2m)

  Is the shallowest level of conformity. A person can change their public behaviour, or the way they act but not their private beliefs. This is usually short term change and is often due to normative social influence (NSI).
• Describe variables affecting conformity - group size

  He carried out variations to determine how the size of the majority affects the rate of conformity. When 1 confederate, the real ppts conformed on 3% of the critical trails. 2 confeds = 12.8% and 3 confeds =32% ----- Is same percentage to original experiment with 6-8 confederates = conformity reaches its HIGHEST level with 3 confederates --- once a majority pressure is created.

  Yet conformity rates can drop when real participants become suspicious of the experiment when too many confederates are used
• Describe variables affecting conformity - unanimity

  Unanimity = refers to extent that members of a majority agree with each other.

  In one of his other experiments, one of the confederates was told to give the correct answer throughout, the rate of conformity dropped to 5%. This shows that if the real participant has support for their belief, then they are more likely to resist the pressure to conform. 
• Describe variables affecting conformity - task difficulty 


  In one of his experiments, he made the task more difficult by making the difference between the line lengths smaller and therefore appear closer together and more ambiguous. He found that the rate of conformity increased = result of informational social influence. People look to another for guidance when undertaking an ambiguous task.
• Define conformity

  A type of social influence that describes how a person changes their attitude or behaviour in response to group pressure.
• Define Zimbardo's aim

  Zimbardo (1973) conducted an extremely controversial study on conformity to social roles called the Stanford Prison Experiment. He wanted to improve the prison system.
• Define Zimbardo's method

  21 male uni students, volunteered newspaper advert. Ppts selected who were physical and mental stable. Paid $15 a day. Each ppt randomly assigned to prisoner or guard.

  Wanted to make as realistic as possible, turning basement of Stanford University into mock prison.

  Prisoners’ taken from homes, real police arrested, fingerprinted, given a number, smock to wear, chains around ankles.

  Guards given uniforms, dark reflective sunglasses, handcuffs and baton.
• How long was it suppose to run for and how long did it run for. Mention Christina Maslach

  
  

  Was set to run for two weeks, it was terminated after just six days, when fellow postgraduate student Christina Maslach told Zimbardo that the conditions in his experiment were inhumane.
• Define Zimbardo results

  Both prisoners and guards quickly identified with their social roles. Within days the prisoners rebelled, but this quickly stopped by the guards, grew increasingly abusive/violent towards the prisoners. The guards dehumanised the prisoners, e.g. forcing clean toilets with their bare hands. The prisoners became more submissive, identifying further with their role.
• Define Zimbardo conclusion

  People quickly conformed to social roles, even if the role went against their moral principles due to situational factors, as none of the participants had ever acted like that before.
• Give a limitation of Zimbardo

  Point: Haslam & Reicher (2006)

  Evidence: replication of the Stanford Prison Experiment, contradicts the Zimbardo’s findings. Was called the BBC Prison Experiment. Randomly assigning 15 men to prisoner or guard. Found ppts did not conform to social roles automatically e.g. guards did not identify with status, refused to impose authority = the prisoners identified as a group to challenge guard’s authority, resulted in a shift of power = collapse of prison system.

  Evaluate: Contradict Z's findings, conformity may not be as automatic as originally thought.
• Give a strength/discussion of Zimbardo

  Point: Zimbardo's study can be linked to Abu Graib (RWA), supporting the fact that situational factors influence behaviour.

  EVIDENCE: During time of the Iraq war (specifically 2003-2004), US Military committed crimes of rape, physical abuse, and murder against the prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison. 17 soldiers and officers were removed from duty, and 11 soldiers were charged with many offences.

  EVALUATE: Supports situational factors
• Give a limitation

  POINT: Ethical guidelines - protection from harm

  EVIDENCE: Five prisoners left early because of mental and physical torment. Furthermore, some guards reported feeling anxious or guilty as of a result for their actions during experiment.

  EVALUATE: Z was taking of superintendent (someone who directs and manages an organisation) of the prison rather than as the researcher with responsibility for this participant.