Obedience Exam Questions
Q1.
Students Natasha and Tanya are buying food in the supermarket on their way home from school. As they are paying, they notice their psychology teacher, Mr Boat, at the far end of the queue. They both smile and wave.
Mr Boat shouts, “Hey, you two! I think you owe me homework. Wait there so we can have a quick chat.”
Natasha and Tanya finish paying, glance at each other giggling and hurry out of the supermarket.
Using your knowledge of obedience research, explain possible reasons why the students failed to obey their teacher.
(Total 6 marks)
Q2.
In Milgram’s experiment on obedience to authority, 65% of participants gave the maximum shock when the experimenter was in the same room as the participant.
For variations of Milgram’s experiment, which of the following statements is true?
Shade one box only.
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A |
When the experimenter and two disobedient confederates were in the same room as the participant, obedience levels increased. |
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B |
When the experimenter and two obedient confederates were in the same room as the participant, obedience levels decreased. |
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C |
When the experimenter gave instructions over the phone, obedience levels increased. |
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D |
When the experimenter was in a different room to the participant, obedience levels decreased. |
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(Total 1 mark)
Q3.
Describe how situational variables have been found to affect obedience. Discuss what these situational variables tell us about why we obey.
(Total 16 marks)
Q4.
Discuss legitimacy of authority as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 8 marks)
Q5.
Outline and explain the findings of Milgram’s investigation into the effect of location on obedience.
(Total 4 marks)
Q6.
Apart from ethical issues, briefly evaluate the methodology of Milgram’s research into obedience.
(Total 4 marks)
Q7.
It is the end of the school day and Freddie is pushing other students in the bus queue.
“Stop it, will you?” protests one of Freddie’s classmates.
“You can’t tell me what to do!” laughs Freddie.
At that moment, Freddie turns to see the deputy head, wearing a high-visibility jacket, staring angrily at him. Without thinking, Freddie stops pushing the other boys and waits quietly in line.
Discuss the legitimacy of authority and agentic state explanations of obedience. Refer to Freddie’s behaviour in your answer.
(Total 16 marks)
Q8.
Outline the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience.
(Total 4 marks)
Q9.
Briefly explain one limitation of the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience.
(Total 2 marks)
Q10.
Outline what is meant by ‘agentic state’ as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 2 marks)
Q11.
Which of the following statements best describes the agentic state?
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A |
People feel responsible for their actions and act according to their own principles |
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B |
People feel that they are not responsible for the actions of a groups |
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C |
People make others feel responsible for their actions |
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D |
People no longer feel responsible for their actions as they are acting for an authority figure |
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(Total 1 mark)
Q12.
Discuss the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 8 marks)
Q14.
Outline one alternative explanation for obedience.
(Total 3 marks)
Q15.
Briefly outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as an explanation of obedience to authority.
(Total 4 marks)
Q16.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? Shade one box only.
According to the Authoritarian Personality explanation for obedience, people who show unquestioning obedience…
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A |
have little respect for those in power. |
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B |
are kind to those they think are less important. |
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C |
are very aware of social status. |
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D |
are accepting of people from different backgrounds. |
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(Total 1 mark)
Q17.
Suggest one limitation of the Authoritarian Personality as an explanation for obedience.
(Total 1 mark)
Q18.
(a) Outline two explanations for obedience. (6 marks)
(b) Briefly evaluate one of the explanations that you have outlined in your answer. (3 marks)
Q19.
Which two of the following are situational variables that can affect obedience? Choose two from the options A, B, C, D and E.
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A |
Proximity |
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B |
Flexibility |
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C |
Identification |
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D |
Authoritarian personality |
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E |
Location |
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(Total 2 marks)
Q20.
Discuss at least two explanations for defiance of authority. Refer to evidence in your answer.
(Total 16 marks)
Q21.
Some psychologists criticise Milgram’s research into obedience to authority, in terms of both methodological issues and ethical issues.
Explain two criticisms of Milgram’s research.
(Total 6 marks)
Q22.
When you are a passenger on a train, you are much more likely to move to another seat if the ticket collector tells you to move than if another passenger tells you to do so.
Use your knowledge of why people obey to explain this behaviour.
(Total 4 marks)
Q23.
(a) Briefly discuss the Authoritarian Personality as an explanation for obedience to authority. (4 marks)
(b) Apart from personality type, outline one psychological explanation for defiance of authority. (2 marks)
(Total 6 marks)
Q24.
Explain one or more reasons why people obey authority.
(Total 6 marks)
Q25.
Describe two ethical issues that can be illustrated by Milgram’s research into obedience to authority.
(Total 4 marks)
Q26.
Identify two factors that have been shown to affect obedience to authority.
Briefly discuss how each of these factors affects obedience to authority.
(Total 6 marks)
Q27.
Outline two explanations of why people obey.
(Total 4 marks)
Q28.
Some research into obedience has been carried out in laboratories. Other studies into obedience have been carried out in the real world, including field experiments and observations.
(a) Outline one advantage of conducting obedience research outside a laboratory setting. ( 2 marks)
(b) Outline one limitation of conducting obedience research outside a laboratory setting. (2 marks)
Q29.
(a) Milgram’s experiments into obedience can be criticised as being unethical.
Describe two ethical issues that can be illustrated by Milgram’s research. (4 marks)
(b) Choose one of the ethical issues identified in your answer to (a) and explain
a way of dealing with it. (2 marks)
Q30.
Milgram’s work into obedience provided us with valuable insights into why people obey, even though it was carried out in a laboratory.
Outline two explanations of why people obey.
(Total 4 marks)
Q31.
Milgram’s work can be criticised for being unethical. Describe one way in which his work is unethical.
(Total 2 marks)
Q32.
Apart from ethical issues, give one strength and one limitation of Milgram’s methodology.
(Total 4 marks)
Q33.
In a hospital, you are very likely to obey a nurse. However, if you meet her outside the hospital, for example in a shop, you are much less likely to obey. Using your knowledge of how people resist pressures to obey, explain why you are less likely to obey the nurse outside the hospital.
(Total 4 marks)