Lecture Notes: Social Influence and Psychology Revision

Introduction

Daily Patreon live streams available until Paper 2; additional streams before Paper 3.
Aiming for 20 hours total of live revision sessions.
Available to all signups level and up.
Preparation: Download 2022 AS and AQA past papers.

Revision Video: Summarizes content from social influence videos.
Longer Videos: For detailed explanations if needed.
Psych Boost App: Teaches A-level psychology using flashcards; free for Paper 1.
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Asch (1958): Three levels/types
- Compliance (Shallow): Agree externally but keep personal opinions.
- Identification (Intermediate): Behavior and private values change with group membership.
- Internalization (Deep): Permanent change in personal opinions.
NSI (Normative Social Influence): Driven by desire to be liked.
ISI (Informational Social Influence): Driven by desire to be correct.
Asch's Experiment (1951): Line judgment task with Confederates.
- Conformity rate: 32%; 75% conformed at least once.
- Variations: Group size, unanimity, task difficulty influence conformity.

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment:
- 24 male students in a simulated prison environment.
- Adapted behavior to assigned roles; severe psychological effects.
- Insights into how social roles can influence behavior.

Milgram's Study:
- Destructive obedience tested via electric shock task.
- 65% of participants administered the highest shock level.
- Variations: Proximity, location, authority figure (uniform).
Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority:
- Individuals act as agents of authority figures.
- Authority legitimized through symbols (uniforms, locations).

Authoritarian Personality:
- Personality type leading to high obedience.
- Shaped by strict parenting, displaced anger.

Social Support:
- Reduces pressure to obey or conform.
Locus of Control:
- Internal vs. External control affects resistance.
- Internals more likely to resist social pressures.

Minority Influence:
- Requires consistency, commitment, and flexibility.
- The Snowball Effect: Slow to rapid adoption of minority views.
Social Change:
- Consistency and strategic flexibility needed for impactful change.

Civil Rights Movement: Consistent nonviolent protests led to major legal changes.
LGBTQ+ Rights Movement: Strategic compromises leading to social acceptance.
Experimental Limitations: Controlled lab research insufficient for establishing cause-effect in social change.