GCSEPsychologyAQAExam QuestionsSocial InfluenceObedience

Obedience (AQA GCSE Psychology): Exam Questions

Exam code: 8182

57 mins12 questions
1a
4 marks

Read the following article.

A psychology researcher’s shocking findings about obedience!!!

The results of a psychology experiment show that most people will obey someone who gives them orders – even if that means giving someone else a life-threatening electric shock!!! The shocks were actually fake – but the participants didn’t know that.

The researcher carried out different versions of the experiment. He changed the method to test the effect on obedience levels. In every version, participants were ordered by the researcher to give shocks of increasing voltage. The highest possible voltage was 450.

In the original experiment, 65% of the participants were willing to give the highest shock. The participants could not see the person being ‘shocked’ but they could hear fake screams.

Obedience levels fell when the researcher wore everyday clothes instead of a lab coat.

Obedience levels were also lower when the experiment was carried out in an office instead of a scientific lab.

Only 19% of the participants were willing to give the highest shock when the orders were given by telephone rather than in person.

Use the article to identify two examples where the social factor of authority affected obedience levels and two examples where the social factor of proximity affected obedience levels.

Write your answers in the correct boxes

Examples of authority

Examples of proximity

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1b
3 marks

Briefly evaluate Milgram’s Agency theory of social factors affecting obedience.

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2
2 marks

Outline one factor that affects obedience.

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3
2 marks

Read the item and then answer the questions that follow.

A researcher conducted a study into obedience. An actor told people to pick up litter in a local park. The actor’s appearance was altered. In Condition A the actor wore a uniform and in Condition B he wore casual clothes. The actor told 40 people to pick up litter in each condition. The number of people who picked up litter in each condition was recorded.

Table 1: The number of people who did or did not pick up litter

Condition A

Condition B

Picked up litter

22

8

Did not pick up litter

18

32

Use your knowledge of psychology to explain why the level of obedience was different in Condition A and Condition B.

How did you do?

4
9 marks

Read the following conversation.

Two psychology students were discussing a lesson about agency theory.

Arielle: “I don't think people should be let off the hook just because someone told them to do it. They still made the choice.”

Phoebe: “But that's kind of the point of agency theory though, isn't it? Once you see yourself as just following orders, it stops feeling like your decision anymore.”

Discuss agency theory as an explanation for obedience.

How did you do?

5
6 marks

Read the following article.

BREAKING NEWS – 6 May 1964

Shocking influence of uniforms!

The results of a psychology study published today show that people are more likely to follow instructions when they are given by someone in a uniform.

Participants in the study were interviewed afterwards about their behaviour.

Researcher: “Why did you follow the instructions even though it was dangerous to do so?”

Participant A: “I honestly didn’t think about the danger – I just did what I was told.”

How can Milgram’s Agency theory be used to explain Participant A’s behaviour?

Refer to the article in your answer.

How did you do?

6
4 marks

Read the following conversation.

Nathan was on his way home from school. He saw a man with heavy shopping bags on the opposite side of the street. This man was casually dressed. The man told Nathan to help carry his shopping.

Later on his walk home, Nathan was stopped by a man immediately in front of him. The man was wearing a security guard’s uniform. The man told Nathan to pick up a piece of litter and put it into a rubbish bin.

Social factors can affect obedience.

Use your knowledge of social factors to explain Nathan’s likely behaviour.

Refer to Nathan being told to help carry shopping bags and when he was told to put the rubbish into the bin.

How did you do?

7
6 marks

Describe and evaluate Adorno’s theory of Authoritarian Personality.

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8
1 mark

Which of the following is a social factor that affects obedience?

  • Personality

  • Proximity

  • Similarity to victim

  • Social loafing

Choose your answer

9
3 marks

Briefly evaluate Adorno’s theory of the Authoritarian Personality.

How did you do?

10
9 marks

Describe and evaluate Milgram’s Agency theory of obedience.

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11
3 marks

Briefly explain Milgram’s agency theory of social factors affecting obedience.

How did you do?

12
5 marks

Use your knowledge of psychology to evaluate Adorno’s theory of the Authoritarian Personality.

How did you do?