Social Influence P1

• What is the main focus of the AQA A-level Psychology Social Influence chapter?

  It covers types of conformity, explanations for conformity, and variables affecting conformity.
• What are the three types of conformity mentioned in the AQA A-level Psychology Social Influence chapter?


  Compliance, Internalisation, and Identification.
• What are the two explanations for conformity discussed in the AQA A-level Psychology Social Influence chapter?

  Informational Social Influence and Normative Social Influence.
• How does compliance differ from internalisation in terms of conformity?


  Compliance is the weakest form of conformity, while internalisation is the strongest form.
• What motivates individuals to conform through compliance?

  To gain the group's approval or avoid disapproval.
• What is the process of social comparison in the context of compliance?

  It involves concentrating on the behaviors of others to adjust one's own actions to fit in.
• What leads to internalisation in conformity?


  Accepting the group's viewpoint after examining one's own beliefs.
• How does identification differ from compliance and internalisation?

  Identification is stronger than compliance but weaker than internalisation, as it involves wanting to be associated with the group.
• Give an example of identification in social behavior.


  A child starts smoking to fit in with the "cool kids."
• What are the two types of social influence explanations for conformity?

  Informational social influence and Normative social influence.
• What is informational social influence?


  It occurs when individuals accept information from others as evidence about reality.
• What triggers normative social influence?

  The need for approval and acceptance while avoiding rejection or disapproval.
• How does group size affect conformity according to Asch's research?

  As group size increases, conformity increases, but only to a certain point.
• What was the highest conformity rate found by Asch when the group size was optimal?

  The highest conformity rate was when there were 3-5 participants.
• How does unanimity affect conformity according to Asch's findings?

  When all confederates gave the same incorrect response, conformity was as high as 33%.
• What happens to conformity rates when a confederate gives the correct answer?

  Conformity rates drop significantly, to as low as 5.5%.
• How does task difficulty influence conformity?

  As task difficulty increases, conformity also increases.
• What did Lucas et al. (2006) find regarding task difficulty and self-efficacy?

  Self-efficacy moderates the influence of task difficulty on conformity.
• Who conducted the famous Stanford Prison Experiment in 1973?

  Philip Zimbardo.
• What was the aim of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?

  To observe the interaction between groups in different social roles without an obvious authority figure.
• How were participants assigned roles in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Participants were randomly allocated to play either the role of a "prisoner" or "guard."
• What were the conditions for the prisoners in Zimbardo's experiment?

  Prisoners were unexpectedly arrested, deloused, and assigned an ID number.
• What was a significant finding from Asch's line study regarding conformity?

  In critical trials, over one third (37%) of real participants conformed to the majority's incorrect answer.
• What ethical concern was raised regarding Asch's line study?

  Deception was used, as participants were unaware that confederates were involved.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?

  Strengths include control over variables; weaknesses include ethical concerns and lack of ecological validity.
• How does Zimbardo's study relate to conformity to social roles?

  It demonstrates how individuals conform to assigned social roles in a controlled environment.
• What are the key components of the AQA A-level Psychology Social Influence chapter?

  • Types of conformity: Compliance, Internalisation, Identification
  • Explanations for conformity: Informational and Normative Social Influence
  • Variables affecting conformity: Group size, Unanimity, Task difficulty
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Asch's line study?

  Strengths:

  • Conducted in a laboratory setting, allowing control over variables
  • Results are consistent and replicable

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lacks external validity due to a non-representative sample
  • Ethical concerns due to deception and potential demand characteristics
• What are the implications of Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment?

  • Demonstrates the power of situational factors in influencing behavior
  • Highlights ethical concerns in psychological research
  • Shows how social roles can lead to conformity and behavioral changes
• Where was the Stanford Prison Study set up?

  Stanford University in the basement of the psychology department
• How many male student volunteers were identified for the Stanford Prison Study?

  24 male student volunteers
• What criteria were used to select the volunteers for the Stanford Prison Study?

  They were psychologically and physically screened for stability and no criminal tendencies
• What roles were the volunteers randomly allocated to in the Stanford Prison Study?

  Either the role of a “prisoner” or “guard”
• What happened to the volunteers allocated as “prisoners” upon entering the prison?

  They were unexpectedly arrested, deloused, given a prison uniform, and assigned an ID number
• How did the guards refer to the prisoners during the experiment?

  Only by their assigned ID numbers
• What items were the guards issued in the Stanford Prison Study?

  Khaki uniforms, reflective sunglasses, handcuffs, truncheons, and keys
• What rights were the prisoners allowed during the Stanford Prison Study?

  3 meals per day and 3 supervised visits to the toilet
• How many prisoners were allocated to each cell in the Stanford Prison Study?

  3 prisoners per cell from a total of 9
• How long was the Stanford Prison Study originally planned to last?

  Two weeks
• What individual differences were noted in the behavior of guards during the Stanford Prison Study?

  • Not all guards were sadistic and brutal
  • Some opted to be fair or did not exert control
  • Behavior among prisoners was also not identical