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SAPsychologyQuick questions
Topic 4: Social Influence
Quick questions on Conformity and obedience (SACE Stage 2 Psychology)
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are asch's line studies?Show answer
Solomon Asch (1951) asked participants to judge which of three lines matched a standard line. Confederates gave the same wrong answer aloud. About one third of responses conformed to the obviously wrong majority, and most participants conformed at least once, mainly through normative pressure.
What are milgram's obedience studies?Show answer
Stanley Milgram (1963) told participants to give what they believed were increasing electric shocks to a "learner" who answered questions wrongly. Although the learner was a confederate and no real shocks were given, 65 percent of participants continued to the maximum 450 volts when prompted by the experimenter.
What is zimbardo's Stanford prison study?Show answer
Philip Zimbardo (1971) assigned student volunteers to be guards or prisoners in a simulated prison. Many guards became abusive and prisoners distressed, and the study was stopped early. It illustrated how powerful situations and assigned roles can shape behaviour, though it has been criticised for its methods and for guards being encouraged towards harsh behaviour.
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