Psychology Chapter: Disposition vs. Situation
16 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key difference between disposition and situation regarding behavior?

  • Situation suggests innate traits dictate behavior.
  • Disposition is solely influenced by social norms.
  • Disposition focuses on external stimuli impacting behavior.
  • Situation emphasizes the role of context in behavior. (correct)

    • What was the outcome when subjects in the Ash Line Experiment had an ally?

  • They relied solely on their own judgments.
  • They became more likely to give the correct answer. (correct)
  • They consistently chose the longest line.
  • They stopped conforming entirely.

    • Which type of conformity occurs when individuals believe others have more accurate information?

  • Individual conformity
  • Normative conformity
  • Behavioral conformity
  • Informational conformity (correct)

    • In the Milgram Experiments, what was the main action participants were instructed to perform?

    <p>Administer shocks to a victim.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of participants in the Milgram Experiment continued to the maximum voltage?

    <p>65%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Stanford Prison Experiment simulate?

    <p>Prison life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one significant implication of the Milgram Experiments?

    <p>Obedience to authority can be context-dependent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect did conformity have on the accuracy of answers given by subjects in the Ash Line Experiment?

    <p>Accuracy declined when group pressure was present.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Ash Line Experiment demonstrate the concept of group conformity?

    <p>The Ash Line Experiment shows that individuals often conform to group opinion, even when they know it is incorrect, highlighting the influence of social pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does authority play in the results observed in the Milgram Experiments?

    <p>Authority strongly influences obedience, as subjects were willing to administer potentially lethal shocks when directed by an authoritative figure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment, how did assigned roles affect participant behavior?

    <p>Assigned roles led participants to adopt extreme behaviors, with guards becoming abusive and prisoners showing high levels of submission.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred about the power of situational context from the studies discussed?

    <p>Situational context significantly impacts behavior, often more than individual dispositions, leading to conformity and obedience in stark scenarios.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the presence of an ally affect conformity in the Ash Line Experiment?

    <p>The presence of an ally increased the likelihood that participants would give the correct answer, reducing the impact of group pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Explain the implications of the findings from the Milgram Experiments about human behavior.

    <p>The Milgram Experiments imply that ordinary people can commit harmful acts when following orders from authority figures, challenging assumptions about morality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon is illustrated by the difference between informational and normative conformity?

    <p>Informational conformity reflects a belief that others possess more knowledge, while normative conformity stems from the desire to fit in and be accepted by the group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the outcomes of the experiments reflect upon the inherent authority and control in social settings?

    <p>The outcomes reveal that social settings, structured by authority, can lead individuals to behave in ways they would not typically endorse, highlighting the influence of situational power dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Disposition vs. Situation

    • Disposition: A person's internal characteristics that influence behavior.
    • Situation: External factors that can affect behavior.
    • The question addressed is to what extent the situation impacts our behavior.

    Authority and Obedience

    • The Authoritarian Personality: Individuals with rigid beliefs and a strong need for order.
    • Obedience to Authority: The tendency to follow instructions from those in positions of power, influenced by situational factors.

    Ash Line Experiment

    • Subjects: Were asked individually and then in groups to compare the length of lines.
    • Procedure: Compare a target line to three other lines, identifying the closest match.
    • Manipulation: "Group members" were actors instructed to give incorrect answers.
    • Results: Accuracy of answers differed between individual and group settings.

    Group Conformity

    • Informational Conformity: Individuals believe others have better information, leading to conformity.
    • Normative Conformity: Individuals conform to fit in and avoid social disapproval.

    Milgram Experiments

    • Subjects: Told they were in a study about learning.
    • Procedure: Administered "shocks" to unseen "victims" with increasing intensity.
    • Manipulation: Victim was an actor, but subjects were unaware.
    • Results: Majority (65%) continued to the maximum voltage even with the victim's pleas to stop.
    • Implications: Situation plays a significant role in obedience.

    Stanford Prison Experiment

    • Participants: Assigned to either "guard" or "prisoner" roles in a simulated prison environment.
    • Results: Within days, participants fully adopted their assigned roles, demonstrating the power of situational influence.

    Disposition vs. Situation

    • Individuals can be predisposed to certain behaviors.
    • External factors (the context) can influence behavior.

    Authority and Obedience

    • Authoritarian Personality: A personality type characterized by obedience to authority and a belief in rigid social hierarchies.
    • People can be more likely to obey authority figures depending on the context.

    Ash Line Experiment

    • Participants were asked to identify the line closest in length to a target line.
    • Participants were placed in groups with actors who intentionally gave wrong answers.
    • The conformity of participants was tested, with many giving wrong answers to align with the group.
    • Having an ally in the group increased the likelihood of participants giving the correct answer.

    Group Conformity

    • Informational Conformity: People conform when they believe others have better information.
    • Normative Conformity: People conform to fit in with the group and avoid social disapproval.

    Milgram Experiments

    • Participants were told they were participating in a learning experiment and were instructed to administer electric shocks to learners who answered incorrectly.
    • The intensity of the shocks increased with each wrong answer.
    • The learners were actually actors, and no real shocks were given.
    • Even when learners expressed pain, most participants continued administering shocks as instructed by the experimenter (65%).
    • The experiment demonstrated that people are susceptible to obeying authority figures, even if it means going against personal ethics.

    Stanford Prison Experiment

    • Participants were randomly assigned roles as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison environment.
    • Over a short period, participants adopted their assigned roles, leading to aggressive behavior by guards and submissive behavior by prisoners.
    • The experiment highlights the influence of situational factors (roles and environment) on behavior.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Week 1 Context and Authority PDF

    Description

    Explore the concepts of disposition and situation in psychology, highlighting their influence on behavior. This quiz will delve into authority, obedience, and the famous Ash line experiment, examining how group dynamics affect our perceptions and responses. Test your understanding of these critical psychological principles.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser