investigating levels of majority influence
Investigating Levels of Majority Influence in Different Genders Abstract: An investigation into the effects of majority influence in different genders was carried out. In the investigation participants were shown images popularly regarded as disgusting and then were drawn into discussion regarding these items. Male and females responses were recorded and compared with in terms of conformity. The results were statistically significant; x2 = 23.7, p<o.o5. The implications of this investigation are that in modern day society males are less influenced to conform than women. Also that women are more likely to conform perhaps due to peer pressure and not wanting to be 'the odd one out'. Further could investigate the levels of conformity within a variety of ages, between males and females; since the study only focused on a fixed age group. Introduction: This investigation will focus on the effects of gender differences in majority influences. Majority influence (social influence) is a 'process by which a person's attitudes, beliefs or behaviours are modified by the presence or actions of others'. The aim of the investigation was to see whether or not there would be a higher score of majority influence in males or females. Also not a lot of research has been put on this study, although previous research, done by Zimbardo and Leippe (1991), had shown that women conform more than
The aim of this experiment is to find out if people will conform without face-to-face contact. Crutchfield's study of conformity (1955) was a faceless conformity experiment.
ABSTRACT. The aim of this experiment is to find out if people will conform without face-to-face contact. Crutchfield's study of conformity (1955) was a faceless conformity experiment. This involved the false answers of confederates being placed into view of participants in order to see if they conformed. They were asked to answer general knowledge questions. This experiment is based on that study. The operational hypothesis for this investigation is 'Participants will be influenced by a fictitious list on a faceless conformity task' meaning that my null hypothesis will be 'Participants will not be influenced by a fictitious list on a faceless conformity task'. The research method that was used was a field experiment and the design was an independent groups design. An independent groups design was chosen because otherwise the participants would know what was going on and would therefore void the results. An opportunity sampling method was chosen in this experiment because of the abundance of available participants. The age range was 16-19 year old students, 10 male and 10 female. The results showed that participants did conform, the mean of the experimental results (173) being closer to the fictitious results (217) than the control (79). The null hypothesis in this experiment was rejected; meaning my experimental hypothesis was accepted. In conclusion, this
Why are health psychologists interested in human sexual behaviour and how have they attempted to study it?
SS3.27 Psychology of Education & Health Lecturer: Carla Willig Why are health psychologists interested in human sexual behaviour and how have they attempted to study it? In order to thoroughly answer the question posed various factors need to be scrutinized. Firstly the main reasons for health psychologists' interest in human sexual behaviour shall be explored and secondly the main methods used will be described. The foremost techniques shall be argued to be sex surveys, laboratory studies, studies of social cognitions, sexual experience within close relationships, and the study of sexual meanings. These five contemporary approaches are behavioural, physiological, cognitive, relationship and meaning orientated respectively and an example of each shall be presented. All these features will be evaluated in detail before summarising the main points and offering a conclusion as to which direction future research into human sexual behaviour should take. From a health psychologists viewpoint it is unproblematic to see why they choose to study human sexual behaviour. The three main reasons resolve around the idea of mind-body interdependence, physical/emotional consequences and social interaction. The first motive is pretty straightforward as sexual activity incorporates the body as well as the mind. Yet the second one is slightly more complex. The outcomes of sexual behaviour
Parkers participant observation describes The Boys everyday lives but what else does it do? Critically consider the impact of the study and its relevance to theory, methodology, and policy.
Parker's participant observation describes 'The Boys' everyday lives but what else does it do? Critically consider the impact of the study and it's relevance to theory, methodology, and policy. In this essay I will be looking at the observational study carried out by Howard Parker, 'A View from the Boys' (1947). In this study Parker covertly participated to find out about the lives of a gang of adolescent boys from Liverpool. The study was looking into the sub-culture aspect of crime and deviance with a strong hold of Functionalism. Both the Functionalist and the sub-culture theories stress the learning of norms and values are crucial to the relation to crime committed. The sub-culture in Parker's study focused on the behaviour and beliefs of the boys that he studied that differentiated them from the public generally. The sub-culture in a 'View from the Boys' came about due to the boys being in a gang and separating themselves from the rest of the public and engaging themselves in criminal behaviour. It is possible to see that it would have been difficult for Parker to have gained access to the group. This is a difficult aspect of participant observation as the observer cannot go into a group without them being curious, which would affect their behaviour and would question the validity of the study. However, in Parkers case he was easily able to gain access as he had met
Genetics and environment: inseparable when discussing criminality.
Genetics and environment: inseparable when discussing criminality. Criminality is an ancient behaviour that appears with the civilization of the human being. Indeed even though one can measure aggression and violence in animals it could never be associated to criminality, for this concept involves the notion of law and moral that one transgresses. This is why criminality just as a concept could never be a purely biological outcome, because its roots are founded in society and thus in environment. When studying such a subject one must remember that we are discussing a social problem as well as a psychological problem and a biological one. Indeed we are going to discuss that different biological causes lead to criminality or predispose someone to it, then we will discuss the environmental factors. When discussing the genetics of criminality one must first specify what kind of criminality is in question. Indeed it would be hard to talk about the possible genetic inference in fraudulent behaviour. This is why we want to make a differentiation between violent criminality and non violent criminality. We are going to discuss the possibility of genes having some influence in criminality because "though the belief that single genetics defects produce criminal behaviour is untenable, behaviour is regarded as an emergent function of physical systems and brain activity which provides
Sexual dysfunctions are dyadic phenomena. Discuss.
Question 2: Sexual dysfunctions are dyadic phenomena. Discuss. This Essay will discuss and explain sexual dysfunctions as dyadic phenomena by taking into account and comparing the first and the second-generation therapists' approach. Attitudes towards sex and sexuality significantly changed through history. Cultural and medical foundations constantly tried to "prescribe" the "right ways" to experience one's sexuality (Ellison, C.R., in Kaschak & Tiefer, 2001). Almost until the end of the twentieth century, one of the right ways was the notion of promoting and manufacturing orgasm. Orgasm became absolute must and had to occur during intercourse. The notion of multiple orgasms started in 1966 and from there the pressure began. People became preoccupied whether or not would perform well. Masters and Johnson (1970) developed the conceptualisation and language of sex therapy. Sexual intercourse was classified as normal, while difficulties to function through the sexual response cycle were defined as dysfunctions. Sexual dysfunction is any variation away from four normal stages, i.e. excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution. During the 1970s and 1980s sex therapy was oriented towards dysfunctions and sexual performance, but neglected intimacy. Masters and Johnson created the norms of sexual behaviour and experience, therefore put pressure on those who did not "fit" into those
To what extent do Social and Media factors influence Criminal Behaviour?
To what extent do Social and Media factors influence Criminal Behaviour? More recently the discussion into what the most likely cause of crime is has changed. From the 40's and onwards psychologists such as Sheldon and Lambroso have tried to prove the cause of crime as being genetic and down to the nature of the person committing them. Lambroso himself suggested that "Criminals are born not made" and tried to conduct research to prove this. However, whilst it is highly recognised that there is a general biological difference between those who commit common crimes and the 'average citizen', more recent research has examined closely the effect that outside causes have on people turning to crime. The discussion on criminality has changed from whether the 'Nature' side of a person is to blame for it or whether the 'Nurture' received by people is the primary reason. Since the 'Nature' of criminals has been looked at and respected conclusions have been drawn, more psychologists have been looking into how 'Nurture' has led to criminality. One aspect that the 'Nurture' side of studies looks into is the social influences that people are receiving at this point in history. In the time of Sheldon and others people only socialised within their town. Since towns used to be much smaller, this used to only give them access to people within a radius of about 2 miles. But, now that there
Educational course design - explain the background, methodology, results and implications of this paper.
Explain the background, methodology, results and implications of this paper. In contemporary psychology, the behavioural perspective known as behaviour analysis emphasises careful measurement of overt observed behaviour, along with an appreciation of the role of environment just before and just after the response. Prediction and control of behaviour are of vital interest to mankind, and behaviour analysis offers the tools to accomplish this. Behaviour analysis maintains the primary emphasis on observable behaviour and its relation to environmental events. This is expressed particularly through the principle of reinforcement, the idea that patterns of emitted behaviour can be selected by their consequences (Grant and Evans, 1994). It is impossible to study behaviour either in or outside the laboratory without encountering a schedule of reinforcement: whenever behaviour is maintained by a reinforcing stimulus, some schedule is in effect and is exerting its characteristic influences. Only when there is a clear understanding of how schedules operate will it be possible to understand the effects of reinforcing stimuli on behaviour. (Zeiler, 1979) Most educational institutions use one of two general forms of testing schedules, predictable or unpredictable. In an unpredictable schedule, variable inter-test intervals occur where no anticipation can be made of when they will
Why Don't Bystanders Help? Diffusion of Responsibility or Social Norms?
Why Don't Bystanders Help? Diffusion of Responsibility or Social Norms? Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the extent that people are willing to assist a person that is in need of help in a non-emergency situation. This experiment was designed to test two concepts of helping behavior. Diffusion of responsibility, where the person in a group situation feels that is not his personal responsibility to intervene and others will intervene if necessary. Social norms concept, where people will do what society expects them to do. Using 125 participants, a non emergency situation was simulated. Finding a lone person in the street, an experimenter dropped approximately 100 sheets of loose leaf paper from a folder in the presence of a lone person, and reported those that helped. Using a confederate (a person taken into the confidence of the experimenter, and told the purpose of the study), 3 different conditions were conducted as follows: . Experimenter in the presence of a confederate that helped to pick up the papers. 2. Experimenter in the presence of a confederate that did not help to pick up the papers. 3. Experimenter by himself. It was found that only 40% helped if the experimenter was alone, 44% helped if the confederate did not help, and 55% helped if the confederate helped, supporting that of the social norm concept. Introduction This study is aimed at
The aim of this study will be to see if gender effects the rate of conformity.
Psychology Coursework-Coursework Project Brief Identify the aim of the research and state the experimental / alternative and null hypothesis. The aim of this study will be to see if gender effects the rate of conformity, because Jenness's 1932 study didn't take gender in to account and he only used male participants, assuming that female rates or conformity were the same as male ones. This study will replicate Jenness's 1932 study. The experimental hypothesis for this study will be that there will be a difference between participants according to thier gender. This should be evaluated by a one tailed test, using a nominal level of significance. The null hypothesis will be that gender will not effect the rate of conformity.This should be evaluated by a two tailed test, using a nominal level of significance. Explain why a directional or a non directional experimental / alternative hypothesis has been chosen. A non directional hypothesis has ben selected because it has been predicted that there will be a difference or correlation between the two variables, but the direction of the difference has not been stated. Identify the chosen research method and the research design chosen. An independant groups design will be used, along with experimental method. The advantages are that it can be replicated and the variables can be controlled, and that different poeple will be
