independent behaviour conformity and obedience
TRANSCRIPT
Independent Behaviour
What is independent behaviour?
• When an individual doesn‟t respond to group norms
• Pay no attention to others behaviour but are not influenced by them
• When someone has the ability to resist the pressures to conform or to obey
Lets start at the beginning – Why do people conform?
NSI – desire to be liked, look for acceptance
ISI – desire to be right, look for guidance
Why not?!
In pairs, discuss possible reasons for why someone would not conform in a
situation
What is conformity?
The tendency to change your behaviour and or views in response to real or imagined pressure from a social group
Allies – A01
• Research has demonstrated that majority influence is more effective when the majority are unanimous
• If there is just one person in a situation that goes against the majority conformity rates drop
- Why do you think this is?
Where have we seen the effect of a „dissenter‟ before?
Asch!
With a dissenter (someone going against the majority) conformity dropped to 5% compared to 32% (without a dissenter)
Allies – A02
Research has demonstrated that the presence of a dissenter (ally) results in a drop in conformity
For example, Allen & Levine (1971) carried out research similar to Asch‟s – in condition 1 the dissenter had bad eyesight, condition 2 the dissenter has normal vision, condition 3 has no dissenter – conformity dropped significant in condition 1 and 2 compared to 3.
This is a strength because Allen & Levine support Asch‟s findings, that an ally (even one with poor vision on a visual task) can decrease conformity, leading to independent behaviour
Locus of Control – A01
• Refers to a person‟s perception of personal control over their own behaviour
Internal – great deal of personal responsibility, consider their behaviour to be controlled by themselves
External – consider their behaviour to be controlled by external factors
Who is more likely to resist conformity?
Internal locus of control
OR
External locus of control
Locus of Control – A02 Further research offers support for the
assumption that individuals with high internal locus of control are more independent.
Atgis (1998) found that those who scored higher on external locus of control were more easily persuaded and likely to conform than those with a low score.
This is positive as it therefore suggests that „internals‟ may be more independent than „externals‟.
Locus of Control– A02 Further research has demonstrated that there is an
unclear link between locus of control and resisting conformity.
Williams & Warchal (1981) found that when 30 students were given a range of conformity tasks based on Asch‟s experimental paradigm and then tested using Rotter‟s locus of control scale, those that conformed did not score differently for locus of control BUT did get a low score on an assertiveness scale.
This is a weakness as Williams and Warchal‟s research demonstrates that the link between locus of control & independent behaviour is unclear.
Independent Behaviour
Disobedience
What is obedience?
When someone acts in response to a direct order given by someone considered to have more authority/social power than themselves.
**It usually involves the individual doing something they wouldn‟t normally have done**
Why to people obey?
G
L
A
D
radual Commitment
egitimate Authority
gentic Shift
ehumanisation
Why would people not obey?
Illegitimate Authority (lack of legitimate…) – when you don‟t consider the individual giving you orders to have social power/authority
Locus of control – how much the individual feels they have control over their own behaviour
Lack of Legitimate Authority
• If an authority figure is not considered to be legitimate, e.g. has no social power or authority, we are less likely to obey them
How was this shown in the variations of Milgrams research?
- When the research took place at Yale with the experimenter obedience was higher than when it was in a run-down office block with an experimenter in „normal‟ clothes
Yale = 65% Office Block = 48%
Evaluate Milgram‟s research
You‟ve identified Milgram‟s research in demonstrating a lack of legitimate authority in resisting pressures to obey
- Now use your research methods to evaluate his research
+ve – high degree of control
Milgram‟s research was conducted in a lab and so had a high degree of control
For example the experimenter could control variables such as the learners protests etc (remember they were recorded)
This is a strength because Milgram was able to measure the effects of an authority figure on obedience
-ve – lack of mundane realism
Milgram‟s research can be criticised for lacking mundane realism
For example Orne suggested that the participants in Milgram‟s research knew that the shocks were not real
This is a weakness because the research may in fact lack internal validity and ultimately may not be investigating the effects of an authority figure on obedience
Locus of Control – A01
• Refers to a person‟s perception of personal control over their own behaviour
Internal – great deal of personal responsibility, consider their behaviour to be controlled by themselves
External – consider their behaviour to be controlled by external factors
Who is more likely to resist conformity?
Internal locus of control
OR
External locus of control
Locus of Control – A02 Further research has supported the fact that
personality plays an important role in resisting obedience to authority
Elms & Milgram (1974) set out to investigate the background of disobedient participants by interviewing a sample of those involved in Milgram‟s original experiment. They found that disobedient participants scored an internal locus of control
This is a strength as the research supports the idea that a an internal locus of control can lead to more resisting obedience to authority.
Mind maps!!
Close your booklets Get a piece of paper Write “Resisting Conformity” on one side and
“Resisting Obedience” on the other You have 5 minutes to write all that you can
remember on both sides of the sheet