Social Psychology
How Knowledgeable
100
90
80
70
60
Rating of Questioner
50
Rating of Contestant
40
30
20
10
0
Questioners' Ratings
Contestants' Ratings
Observers' Ratings
Errors and Biases
• Fundamental Attribution Error
• Actor-Observer Bias
• Just World Bias
Conformity
• Sherif: Autokinetic
Effect
• Asch: Judging Lines
– Can a group make you
change your
perceptions?
– How can we rule out
confounds?
Obedience: Milgram Study
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The Situation
Predictions: How far would people go?
How far did people go?
Over 60% went all the way -- even when
the “learner” stopped responding
Why did they obey?
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Normative expectations
Freedom from responsibility
Ambiguity of alternatives
Step by step approach -- “Slippery Slope”
Proximity of victim
Proximity of authority