amazon.co.ukSocial Influence and Attachment
A-Level Psychology revision: Social Influence and Attachment. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.
📌 Key Points
Key Fact: Conformity: Compliance (public only), Identification (group membership), Internalisation (true belief); Asch (line length, 32% conform), Zimbardo (Stanford prison)
Key Fact: Obedience: Milgram (65% to 450V), agency theory (agentic/autonomous state), legitimacy of authority, gradual commitment
Key Fact: Resistance: social support (ally), locus of control (internal resist); Minority influence: consistency, commitment, flexibility, snowball effect
Key Fact: Attachment: Bowlby (evolutionary, monotropy, critical period 0-2.5yrs, IWM), Ainsworth: Secure (B), Insecure-avoidant (A), Insecure-resistant (C); Disorganised (D)
Key Fact: Cultural: van IJzendoorn (meta-analysis, secure universal but variations), Romanian orphans (Rutter, ERA study, privation effects)
Key Fact: Influence on later relationships: IWM -> parenting, peer, romantic (Hazan & Shaver)
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Explain conformity: types (compliance, identification, internalisation), Asch, Zimbardo
- Explain obedience: Milgram, situational vs dispositional factors, agency theory
- Understand resistance to social influence: social support, locus of control
- Explain minority influence: Moscovici, consistency, commitment, flexibility
- Understand attachment: Bowlby (monotropy, critical period, internal working model), Ainsworth (Strange Situation, types)
- Evaluate cultural variations in attachment, Romanian orphan studies, institutionalisation
💡 Worked Example
Exam-Style Question
Question: Explain why Milgram's participants obeyed using agency theory
Model Answer:
Agentic state: individual sees self as agent of authority, not responsible. Autonomous state: self-directed. Shift triggered by: legitimate authority, institutional context, gradual commitment (15V steps), buffers (victim not visible). Dispositional: authoritarian personality (Adorno)
❓ Practice Questions
Questions:
- Distinguish compliance vs internalisation
- Evaluate Zimbardo ethics
- Explain internal working model
- Compare attachment types in Strange Situation
- Evaluate Romanian orphan study
🎬 Video Resources
- Social Influence and Attachment - Overview -- YouTube Search
- Social Influence and Attachment - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search
📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources
🔗 Further Reading & Resources
- Physics & Maths Tutor - Social Influence and Attachment -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
- Dr Frost Maths - Social Influence and Attachment -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
- BBC Bitesize - Social Influence and Attachment -- BBC Bitesize revision resources
📚 Lesson Plan (50 minutes)
- Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of social influence and attachment with quick questions.
- Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
- Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
- Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Explain why Milgram's participants obeyed using agency theory. Solution: Agentic state: individual sees self as agent of authority, not responsible. Autonomous state: self-directed. Shift triggered by: legitimate authority, institutional context, gradual commitment (15V steps), buffers (victim not visible). Dispositional: authoritarian personality (Adorno)
- Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
- Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.
🏠 Homework
- Distinguish compliance vs internalisation
- Evaluate Zimbardo ethics
- Explain internal working model
- Compare attachment types in Strange Situation
- Evaluate Romanian orphan study
🧾 Assessment
Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.