Experimental Psychology PSY 433 Chapter 13 Social Psychology

Midterm Results Score Grade N 30-34 A 13 27-29 B 4 24-26 C 3 21-23 D 0-20 F Top score = 34/34 Top score for curve = 34

Social Psychology Social Cognition -- how we perceive others: Stereotypes, prejudice, attraction, liking. Attitudes and beliefs, identity, sense of self, and how these are changed. Social Influence -- how others influence our behavior: Conformity, compliance, and obedience. Aggression, violence, altruism, cooperation.

Conformity

Conformity Sherif’s (1935) work on social norms using the autokinetic effect. Autokinetic effect – a stationary spot of light in a dark room appears to move. What others say affects an observer’s perceptions –it appears to move in an arc if other people saw it move in an arc.

Conformity Asch’s (1951, 1956, 1958) work on conformity using line judgments. Subjects were told the study was on visual discrimination, but it was actually on conformity. The task – identify which of 3 lines matches a standard. Asch expected that people would follow the evidence of their own eyes – but they didn’t.

Standard A B C

Asch’s Paradigm Six confederates & 1 subject Each responded out loud Experimental manipulation: Confederates respond correctly on 6 trials & incorrectly on 12 Most subjects conformed on 1 or more of the 12 incorrect trials Control: Confederates always responded correctly (only 5% of subjects erred).

Compliance and Obedience Milgram (1963, 1964, 1965) obedience task Paid subjects volunteered for a study of the effects of punishment on learning/memory. Involved 3 people: Authority – the experimenter Victim – the “learner” (a confederate) Subject -- the “teacher”

Milgram’s Shock Panel Slight Shock Moderate Shock Strong Shock Very Strong Shock IntenseShock 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 Extreme-Intensity Shock Danger: Severe Shock 315 330 345 360 375 390 405 420 435 450 XXX

“I can’t stand the pain!” Learner Responses Slight Shock Moderate Shock Strong Shock Very Strong Shock IntenseShock 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 Grunts & Moans “Let me out!” “I can’t stand the pain!” “I refuse to answer!”

Conditions Affecting Obedience The setting – did Yale foster obedience because it was well-known, Ivy League? Replication in a sleazy part of Bridgeport 48% gave max shock, compared to 65% Presence/absence of peers also showing defiance or conformity: Conforming peers encouraged greater shock. Proximity to the “victim”: 74% when hear victim, 40% when see victim, 30% when touch victim

Interpreting Conformity Results Perhaps subjects trusted that no harm would really come to the subjects – treated the context as “make believe”. Perhaps results underestimate conformity, since the experimenter truly has no authority over the subject. Obedience is not necessarily bad – society would not function if people ignored laws and persons in authority.