Social influence - AQA Psychology in 22 MINS!

Summary

This video script covers key topics in A-level psychology, focusing on social influence, including conformity, obedience, and minority influence. It explores classic studies by Asch, Zimbardo, and Milgram, detailing how social roles, authority figures, and group dynamics affect behavior. The script discusses how minorities can create social change through consistency, commitment, and flexibility, as seen in historical movements like Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, viewers are encouraged to use revision tools, such as the Psych Boost app and Patreon resources, for further study and support. The content is aimed at helping students prepare for their exams with clear, summarized insights.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daily live streams on Patreon will continue until paper 2 and even before paper 3, totaling 20 hours of revision available for all sign-up levels.
• 📝 The revision video combines and summarizes key points from the social influence videos, offering a quick reminder of the content.
• 📱 The Psych Boost app provides active flashcard-based revision for A-level psychology, with all of paper one available for free on iOS and Android.
• 🎥 A detailed explanation of Ash's 1958 Conformity study, focusing on types of conformity (compliance, identification, internalization) and the role of normative and informational social influence.
• 🔍 Ash's study found that 32% of participants conformed in critical trials, with conformity rates dropping when participants had social support or were unsure of the correct answer.
• ⚖️ Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment shows how social roles can influence behavior, with participants quickly adopting abusive or submissive behaviors based on their assigned roles as guards or prisoners.
• ⚠️ Milgram's obedience study demonstrated that under certain conditions, people will obey authority figures even when it involves harming others, with 65% of participants going to the maximum shock level.
• 💡 Research into obedience suggests that factors like proximity, legitimacy of authority, and the setting can influence obedience rates, as shown in Milgram's variations.
• 👥 Locus of control theory explains how people with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist social influence, while those with an external locus of control tend to be more susceptible.
• 🌍 Minority influence can lead to social change through consistency, commitment, and flexibility, as seen in movements like the Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ rights campaigns.
• 🏆 The Snowball Effect describes how minority views gradually gain momentum and lead to widespread societal acceptance, often unnoticed due to social crypto-amnesia.

Q & A

What is conformity in the context of social influence?

Conformity refers to the change in behavior or belief as a result of the real or imagined influence of others. It involves adjusting one's thoughts or actions to align with a group.

What are the three types of conformity, and how do they differ?

The three types of conformity are compliance, identification, and internalization. Compliance involves temporary changes in behavior to avoid rejection. Identification involves changes due to a desire to fit in with the group. Internalization is a deeper, permanent change in behavior and beliefs, often based on the desire to be correct.

How does normative social influence (NSI) differ from informational social influence (ISI)?

Normative social influence (NSI) is driven by the desire to be accepted by others and avoid rejection, leading to compliance. Informational social influence (ISI) occurs when individuals look to others for correct information, often leading to internalization of new beliefs.

What did Asch's Line Judgment Experiment reveal about conformity?

Asch's experiment revealed that 32% of participants conformed at least once, demonstrating that people are likely to conform to a group's majority opinion, even when it contradicts their own senses. Factors influencing conformity included group size, unanimity, and task difficulty.

What were the findings of Parin and Spencer’s 1981 study on conformity?

Parin and Spencer’s study found lower conformity rates in a sample of British engineering students, suggesting that conformity rates can vary based on cultural context and historical time periods.

What did Milgram's obedience study reveal about human behavior under authority?

Milgram's obedience study demonstrated that 65% of participants were willing to administer the highest shock (450V) to another person, showing that people are highly susceptible to authority figures, even when the actions may harm others.

What is the concept of the 'agentic state' in Milgram's study?

The 'agentic state' is a mental condition where an individual sees themselves as an agent carrying out the orders of an authority figure, which reduces personal responsibility for their actions.

How did Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment contribute to our understanding of social roles?

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrated how quickly individuals adopt social roles. Participants assigned to be guards began exhibiting abusive behaviors, while those assigned as prisoners showed signs of stress and helplessness, highlighting the power of situational factors in shaping behavior.

What strategies have been used by minority groups to influence social change?

Minority groups can influence social change through consistency, commitment, and flexibility. The 'snowball effect' describes how small minority influences can grow over time, eventually leading to societal change. Examples include the Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ rights movements.

What role does flexibility play in social change, particularly in movements like LGBTQ+ rights?

Flexibility in social change involves adapting strategies and messages to different circumstances. The LGBTQ+ rights movement used flexible tactics, such as campaigning for civil partnerships before eventually achieving the full legalization of same-sex marriage, demonstrating strategic compromise.