Unit 14

Social Psychology

Social PsychologyThe scientific study of how we think about, influence and relate to one another.

Sociology – the study of societySocial behaviorSocial structureSocial institutions

ConformityAdjusting one’s behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

ConformityWhich line is

identical to the standard line?

After 4 people chose line 3, the fifth person agrees.

ObedienceThe act or practice of obeying or

complying.Behaving as expected; good behavior.Dutiful or submissive.

Milgram ExperimentStudy on the effect of

punishment on learning.

“Teacher” & “Learner”Teacher is to teach the

learner a list of words and deliver brief electric shocks for wrong answers (beginning with slight shock and increasing in higher voltage).

ControversyDeception and stress –

“learners” were acting.

Milgram ExperimentBrief Original Video

Video Clip #1: Obedience - Original Experiment

Video Clip #2: Obedience - Original Experiment

Video Clip #3: Obedience - Original Experiment

Handout 14-3

Milgram ExperimentPredictions

40 psychiatrists predicted less than 10% would comply all the way through to the highest voltage.

Participants completed a survey prior to the experiment.Most declared they would stop

soon after the “learner” first indicated pain and certainly before he shrieked in agony.

Milgram ExperimentResults

63% complied fully – right up to the last switch.

In a repeated experiment in which the “learner” mentioned a “slight heart condition”, still 65% complied fully.

Milgram ExperimentObedience was highest when…

the person giving the order was close at hand and was perceived to be a legitimate authority figure.

the authority figure was supported by a prestigious institution.

the victim was depersonalized or at a distance.

there were no role models for defiance.

Milgram ExperimentWhat is the significance of this experiment?

What does it teach us about ourselves?

Moral sense warned them not to harm another, yet it also prompted them to obey the experimenter.

Strong social influences can make people conform to falsehoods or capitulate to cruelty.

Great evils sometimes grow out of people’s compliance with lesser evils.

12 Angry Men

Part 1/12Part 2/12Part 3/12Part 4/12Part 5/12Part 6/12

Part 7/12Part 8/12Part 9/12Part 10/12Part 11/12Part 12/12

Via YouTube: