Explanations of why people obey incl: Independent behaviour..resisting social influence Individual differences in independent behaviour Implications for social change.

1
Explanations of why people obey inclIndependent
behaviour..resisting social influenceIndividual
differences in independent behaviourImplications
for social change.
2
Validity of obedience research.

• Realism- Orne Holland challenged the realism of
  the study, most people know to distrust
  investigations thus distrust was the reason
  behind the shocking (sorry!) result.
• Generalisability- Hofling et al (1966), Rank
  Jacobson (1975) both real life and realistic,
  both with opposing results.
• Obedience alibi-Eichman suggested he was doing
  his job-Milgram suggested this was as a result of
  the agentic shift However
• Major Wilhelm Trapp offered soldiers to partake
  in other duties if they found the killing of Jews
  an uneasy duty.
• Proximity- Wellthe killers walked their victims
  to their death. This should have produced
  empathy!
• Presence of allies- Several did not partake in
  the killings, but the majority did..in theory
  they should have said no!

3
Review of learning.

• Outline three obedience studies
• Describe three evaluative points
• Provide a counter argument showing Milgrams work
  was high in validity
• Present evidence that Milgrams research was low
  in validity.
• Describe two ethical issues and how Milgram
  attempted to deal with these issues.

4
So why do people obey?
(AO1)

• Gradual commitment- Having committed to one
  course of action i.e the shocks, it is difficult
  to say no to other requests aka the foot in the
  door effect.
• Agentic Shift-When an individual moves from an
  autonomous (independent, thinking for themselves
  to an agentic state where they now see themselves
  as acting on behalf of another).
• The role of Buffers- Cruise missile vs. the
  shooting an individual face to face. The
  immediacy of ones action is not present in the
  case of a cruise missile thus buffering allows
  for a willingness to obey.
• The less well known defence-Justification. By
  giving individuals a justification dissenters in
  Milgrams study were able to find a reason aka
  justification for their actions (the experiment
  must continue, he said it was real important).

(AO1)
5
So what do others say about Milgram?
Soldiers carried out killings over months, even
years Milgams Ps only experienced ½ hour. Ps were
adv no harm can come to learner..soldiers knew
they were killing people. Can Agency theory
really explain this behaviour?
(AO2)
Mandel(1998) suggested the explanations given are
over simplified. Goldhagen(1996) suggested
prejudice discrimination as the major cause of
Holocaust rather than obedience.
Milgram claimed his work offered situational
explanation Mandel suggested To say Just obeying
orders-distressing for those affected. Given the
historical analysis of the event to suggest it
was mere obedience is unjustified!
(AO2)
(AO2)
6
Review of learning

• Identify and explain two reasons why people obey
• Give two criticisms of Milgrams explanations
• Use your knowledge of why people obey to explain
  two examples of behaviour reported in the media
  that might be attributed to obedience.

7
Independent behaviour..resisting social
influence

• Resisting pressure to conform
• Insights from Aschs studies Having a ally makes
  them feel they are right (ISI)
• Moral considerations want to be liked (NSI) more
  likely to go with majority even in the case of
  cheating!
• Nonconformist personality usually unconcerned
  with social norms (Nail et al 2000).
  Intentionally choose to oppose often based on
  strong convictions.

• Resisting pressure to obey
• Insights from Milgrams work When victim could be
  seen or had allies obedience loweredthus having
  consequence of actions social support increase
  resistance.
• Moral considerations Behaviour based on moral
  principles (Think Heinz!) were more defiant in
  experiment . Those at lower/restricted levels of
  morality more obedient.
• Social heroism Putting oneself at risk in pursuit
  of justice. Can lead to loss of status,
  credibility and even freedom..(think Nelson
  Mandela!)

REMEMBER INDEPENDENT BEHAVIOUR
8
ATTRIBUTION LOCUS OF CONTROL.

• Both successful
• Both display independent behaviours
• Both have a positive attributional style.
• They resist influence/coercion
• They have strong locus of control.
• money!!
• Status!!
• SUCCESS!!

9
Implications for social change.

• Conformity- Terrorism is a form of social change
  through persistence conformity to zeitgeist.
• Obedience- Disobedient models empower others
  (Civil rights, gay rights, votes for women!)
• Independent behaviour research- Dissent can be
  effective and although disobedient can effect
  positive change (Ghandi, Rosa Parks).

10
Review of learning

• Describe four implications for social change from
  research into social influence.
• For each implication outline a piece of
  supporting research.
• When answering questions on this area you
  should..outline the relevant psychology then
  illustrate clearly how this has been associated
  with social change.