The Power of the Situation Chapter 16 Music: “He Got Game” Public Enemy

Agenda 1. Social Psychology: 1. Social Psychology: A) Definition A) Definition B) Roles and Rules: B) Roles and Rules: Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment 2. Conformity: 2. Conformity: Asch’s Experiments Asch’s Experiments 3. Obedience to Authority: 3. Obedience to Authority: A) Milgram’s Experiment A) Milgram’s Experiment B) Foot-in-the-door phenomena B) Foot-in-the-door phenomena 4. Attribution Error 4. Attribution Error 5. Deception in Psychological Studies 5. Deception in Psychological Studies 6. Movie: “Power of the Situation” DVD # Movie: “Power of the Situation” DVD # 10683

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1. Social Psychology: 1. A): Definition Scientific study of how individuals behave, think and feel in social situations Scientific study of how individuals behave, think and feel in social situations How we are affected by the actual, or implied presence of others (p. 664) How we are affected by the actual, or implied presence of others (p. 664) How we relate to one another (next week) How we relate to one another (next week) How social pressures can exert significant influence on behaviour (this week) How social pressures can exert significant influence on behaviour (this week) E.g. Influence of cults; Jonestown mass suicide E.g. Influence of cults; Jonestown mass suicide B) Social Roles and Rules B) Social Roles and Rules  Social role: Socially defined pattern of behavior that is expected of a person when functioning in a given setting Socially defined pattern of behavior that is expected of a person when functioning in a given setting See social schemas (p. 666) See social schemas (p. 666) E.g. Guards vs. prisoners E.g. Guards vs. prisoners

1. B) Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment (1973) Corruption in prisons: Corruption in prisons: Bad seeds, or bad soil? Study: Study: 22 subjects screened for psychological maturity and health 22 subjects screened for psychological maturity and health Randomly assigned to role of guard or prisoner Randomly assigned to role of guard or prisoner Guards: Guards: worked 8-hour shift worked 8-hour shift Wore uniform, whistle and club Wore uniform, whistle and club Task=maintain reasonable degree of order Task=maintain reasonable degree of order Prisoners: Prisoners: stayed in mock prison 24hrs/day stayed in mock prison 24hrs/day Wore degrading uniform Wore degrading uniform Depersonalized Depersonalized Lived in bare cells without personal belongings/dehumanized Lived in bare cells without personal belongings/dehumanized Therefore, no moral considerations apply? Therefore, no moral considerations apply?

1.B) Zimbardo’s Experiment (cont’d) Results: Results: After 6 days of role simulation: After 6 days of role simulation: Indoctrination into roles that could not be attributed to personal dispositions Guards devised cruel routines Prisoners broke down Study had to be called off. Prisoner abuse Prisoner abuse Process of deindividuation, devaluation of the prisoners, and power differential Process of deindividuation, devaluation of the prisoners, and power differential Prisons are “bad soil” Prisons are “bad soil” Conformity 2. Conformity Adjusting our behavior or thinking to bring it in line with some group standard Adjusting our behavior or thinking to bring it in line with some group standard Solomon Asch’s experiment (early 50’s) Solomon Asch’s experiment (early 50’s) People can be led to say “black” when they see “white” Why do we conform? Why do we conform?

2. Factors that promote conformity: Group size (p. 688) Group size (p. 688) Group unanimity Group unanimity Ambiguity of situation Ambiguity of situation You identify with group members/ In group pressure You identify with group members/ In group pressure Also see “groupthink” (p. 695) Also see “groupthink” (p. 695)

3. Obedience to Authority: Would you electrocute a stranger? Would you electrocute a stranger? A) Milgram’s study : A) Milgram’s study : Emerged from a need to understand the Holocaust and the ways in which obedience could lead to the death of millions of people Emerged from a need to understand the Holocaust and the ways in which obedience could lead to the death of millions of people Details on the experimental situation provided in lecture Details on the experimental situation provided in lecture Conclusions: Conclusions: Ordinary people, following authority, can become agents of aggression Ordinary people, following authority, can become agents of aggression Legitimate authority: Legitimate authority: Someone who has the right to dictate behavior within a particular setting. Someone who has the right to dictate behavior within a particular setting. Conditions for disobedience: Conditions for disobedience: Experimenter left the room or was replaced by an ordinary man Experimenter left the room or was replaced by an ordinary man The victim was right there in the room The victim was right there in the room Participant worked with peers who refused to go further Participant worked with peers who refused to go further

3. b) Foot-in-the-door technique Get people to comply to small requests, and you will be more likely to have them comply to greater requests later (p. 703) Get people to comply to small requests, and you will be more likely to have them comply to greater requests later (p. 703) Study in California: Study in California: (Described in class) (Described in class) Lawn sign: 17% say “yes” Lawn sign: 17% say “yes” #1 License plate sticker: 65% say “yes” #1 License plate sticker: 65% say “yes” #2 Lawn sign: 76% say “yes” #2 Lawn sign: 76% say “yes”

4. Attribution Error Attribution Dimensions: Attribution Dimensions: Internal/external; stable/unstable (Fig. 16.3, p. 670) Internal/external; stable/unstable (Fig. 16.3, p. 670)

4. Fundamental Attribution Error: More likely to make internal attribution and underestimate situational influences for others’ behaviour (p. 671) More likely to make internal attribution and underestimate situational influences for others’ behaviour (p. 671)

4. Attribution Error Why do we blame the victim? Why do we blame the victim? Just world hypothesis: Just world hypothesis: World is fair and we get what we deserve World is fair and we get what we deserve Also called defensive attribution bias (p. 672) Also called defensive attribution bias (p. 672) Self-Serving Bias: Self-Serving Bias: Tendency to make internal attributions for positive events, and external ones for negative events that happen to us (except for depressives) Tendency to make internal attributions for positive events, and external ones for negative events that happen to us (except for depressives) Conclusions: Conclusions: The power of explanations The power of explanations

5. Ethics of Deception Is it acceptable for psychologists to lie to subjects in the name of research? Is it acceptable for psychologists to lie to subjects in the name of research? Pros: Pros: Cons: Cons: Ethics committees: Now require deception to be kept to a minimum, and to be justified. Ethics committees: Now require deception to be kept to a minimum, and to be justified.

5. Movie: “Power of the Situation” Excellent film, with several clips from studies described in this lecture Excellent film, with several clips from studies described in this lecture Available at the Sound and Moving Image Library in Scott (DVD # 10683) Available at the Sound and Moving Image Library in Scott (DVD # 10683) 2 exam questions will be extracted from this movie 2 exam questions will be extracted from this movie