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EnglandPsychology

Social influence

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How can understanding social influence be used to encourage helpful behaviour and resist harmful pressure?

Applications of social influence: how social influence research is used to promote pro-social behaviour and independent behaviour, including how people resist conformity and obedience and the value of dissent and social support.
A focused answer to the OCR GCSE Psychology J203 social influence application, covering how research is used to promote pro-social and independent behaviour, how people resist conformity and obedience, and the value of dissent, social support and an internal locus of control.
9 min answer →

Why do people behave differently in a crowd, and what causes collective behaviour like rioting?

Collective and crowd behaviour: deindividuation, the effect of being in a crowd on behaviour, social loafing, and explanations of why crowds can behave in pro-social or anti-social ways.
A focused answer to the OCR GCSE Psychology J203 social influence topic on collective and crowd behaviour, covering deindividuation, the effect of crowds on behaviour, social loafing, and why crowds can behave in pro-social or anti-social ways.
10 min answer →

Why do people conform to a group and obey authority?

Conformity and obedience: the difference between them, the main types and reasons for conformity (normative and informational influence), and explanations of obedience to authority.
A focused answer to the OCR GCSE Psychology J203 social influence topic on conformity and obedience, covering the difference between them, the types and reasons for conformity (normative and informational influence), and explanations of obedience to authority.
10 min answer →

What do the social influence core studies show about obedience and the causes of collective behaviour?

The social influence core studies: the classic study Bickman (1974) on the social power of a uniform (a situational factor in obedience), and the contemporary study NatCen (2011) on the 2011 English riots (dispositional and situational factors).
A focused answer to the OCR GCSE Psychology J203 social influence core studies, covering the classic study Bickman (1974) on the social power of a uniform and the contemporary study NatCen (2011) on the 2011 English riots, including the aim, method, results, conclusions and evaluation of each.
11 min answer →

What makes people more or less likely to conform or obey?

Factors affecting conformity and obedience: situational factors (group size, anonymity, task difficulty, presence of an ally, locus of authority) and dispositional factors (personality, including locus of control).
A focused answer to the OCR GCSE Psychology J203 social influence topic on the factors affecting conformity and obedience, covering situational factors (group size, anonymity, task difficulty, presence of an ally and authority) and dispositional factors (personality and locus of control).
10 min answer →