AQA A-Level Psychology: Social Influence
Asch's Study (1951)
Study showed 37% of participants conformed in a group setting by
stating the incorrect length of a line due to group pressure.
Asch's Variations
Group Size:
o With two confederates: 13.6% conformity.
o With three confederates: 31.8% conformity.
o Adding more confederates made little difference.
Unanimity: Presence of a dissenting confederate reduced conformity
to 25%.
Task Difficulty: Conformity increased when the task was more difficult
due to informational social influence (ISI).
Explanations for Conformity
Informational Social Influence (ISI): Conforming because we
believe the majority is correct; can lead to internalisation.
Normative Social Influence (NSI): Conforming to gain social
approval; may lead to compliance.
Stanford Prison Experiment (1973)
Conducted by Zimbardo to study the effect of social roles on
behavior.
Participants were randomly assigned as guards or prisoners.
The study was terminated early due to role-induced cruelty and
emotional breakdowns of prisoners.
Limitations of Asch's Study
Child of Its Time: Perrin & Spencer (1980) found only 1 conforming
response in 396 trials.
Artificial Task & Situation: Participants knew they were in a study
(demand characteristics).
, Cultural Bias: Smith & Bond (1998) found conformity higher in
collectivist cultures.
Beta Bias: Only male participants tested; Neto (1995) suggested
women may be more conformist.
Strength of SPE
Control Over Variables: Emotionally stable participants were
recruited, increasing internal validity.
Limitations of SPE
Lack of Realism: Some participants may have been play-acting.
Understated Dispositional Influences: Not all guards behaved
brutally; Zimbardo overstated the power of social roles.
Ethical Issues: Zimbardo had a dual role as researcher and prison
superintendent, affecting his response to participant distress.
Milgram's Study (1963)
Procedure: Participants instructed to give fake electric shocks to a
'learner'.
Findings:
o 65% of participants administered the highest shock (450V).
o 100% gave shocks up to 300V; many showed signs of anxiety.
Limitations of Milgram's Study
Low Internal Validity: Orne & Holland (1968) suggested participants
guessed the shocks were fake.
Social Identity Theory (SIT): Obedience is linked to group
identification, not blind obedience.
Ethical Issues: Deception caused potential psychological harm.
Situational Variables Affecting Obedience
Proximity:
o When teacher and learner were in the same room, obedience
dropped to 40%.
Asch's Study (1951)
Study showed 37% of participants conformed in a group setting by
stating the incorrect length of a line due to group pressure.
Asch's Variations
Group Size:
o With two confederates: 13.6% conformity.
o With three confederates: 31.8% conformity.
o Adding more confederates made little difference.
Unanimity: Presence of a dissenting confederate reduced conformity
to 25%.
Task Difficulty: Conformity increased when the task was more difficult
due to informational social influence (ISI).
Explanations for Conformity
Informational Social Influence (ISI): Conforming because we
believe the majority is correct; can lead to internalisation.
Normative Social Influence (NSI): Conforming to gain social
approval; may lead to compliance.
Stanford Prison Experiment (1973)
Conducted by Zimbardo to study the effect of social roles on
behavior.
Participants were randomly assigned as guards or prisoners.
The study was terminated early due to role-induced cruelty and
emotional breakdowns of prisoners.
Limitations of Asch's Study
Child of Its Time: Perrin & Spencer (1980) found only 1 conforming
response in 396 trials.
Artificial Task & Situation: Participants knew they were in a study
(demand characteristics).
, Cultural Bias: Smith & Bond (1998) found conformity higher in
collectivist cultures.
Beta Bias: Only male participants tested; Neto (1995) suggested
women may be more conformist.
Strength of SPE
Control Over Variables: Emotionally stable participants were
recruited, increasing internal validity.
Limitations of SPE
Lack of Realism: Some participants may have been play-acting.
Understated Dispositional Influences: Not all guards behaved
brutally; Zimbardo overstated the power of social roles.
Ethical Issues: Zimbardo had a dual role as researcher and prison
superintendent, affecting his response to participant distress.
Milgram's Study (1963)
Procedure: Participants instructed to give fake electric shocks to a
'learner'.
Findings:
o 65% of participants administered the highest shock (450V).
o 100% gave shocks up to 300V; many showed signs of anxiety.
Limitations of Milgram's Study
Low Internal Validity: Orne & Holland (1968) suggested participants
guessed the shocks were fake.
Social Identity Theory (SIT): Obedience is linked to group
identification, not blind obedience.
Ethical Issues: Deception caused potential psychological harm.
Situational Variables Affecting Obedience
Proximity:
o When teacher and learner were in the same room, obedience
dropped to 40%.
