Question 1

The scientific study of conformity and obedience demonstrated the degree to which our behavior is influenced by situational factors.

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has shown that situational factors can greatly impact our behavior. Many classic experiments, such as Stanley Milgram's obedience studies and Solomon Asch's conformity studies, have demonstrated the power of social influence and the extent to which individuals will change their behavior in response to perceived social norms or pressure from authority figures.

Question 2

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has demonstrated that each of us does have the capacity to resist group or authority pressure.

Accepted Answer

Research on conformity and obedience has shown that individuals are capable of resisting pressure from both groups and authority figures, although the extent to which this is possible varies depending on various situational factors.

Question 3

As Milgram's obedience experiments demonstrated and the events at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq confirmed, people are helpless to resist authority figures who order them to commitimmoral or destructive acts.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's experiments and the events at Abu Ghraib show that while authority can strongly influence behavior, individuals are not entirely helpless and can choose to resist orders.

Question 4

The Army Reserve guards' belief that the Abu Ghraib detainees were dangerous Islamic terrorists may have contributed to their mistreatment of the detainees, because it allowed them to dehumanize the prisoners and categorize themas out-group members.

Accepted Answer

This is supported by research on the psychology of intergroup conflict, which suggests that viewing members of an out-group as less than human is a key factor in justifying mistreatment or violence towards them. The idea that the detainees were Islamic terrorists may have reinforced the guards' perception of them as a dangerous and dehumanized out-group.

Question 5

Complying with slightly objectionable requests will make it easier for you to resist requests that are more objectionable.

Accepted Answer

Complying with slightly objectionable requests can lead to a "foot-in-the-door" effect, making it more likely that you will comply with more objectionable requests in the future.

Question 6

Social psychologists, such as Zimbardo, have concluded that the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was the result of a few "bad apples" and were isolated incidents involving justa few overzealous or sadistic soldiers.

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists have argued that the abuse at Abu Ghraib was not just the result of a few "bad apples" but rather was caused by situational factors such as the power dynamics between guards and prisoners, lack of oversight and accountability, and the culture of dehumanization towards enemy combatants.

Question 7

The Stanford Prison Experiment clearly demonstrated that conformity to social roles and implied social norms can make people behave in ways that are contrary to their usual behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Stanford Prison Experiment clearly demonstrated that...

Question 8

All of the accused military guards at Abu Ghraib had received extensive training in interrogation procedures and international and Army regulations covering the treatment of prisoners-of-war.

Accepted Answer

Some of the military guards at Abu Ghraib were not adequately trained in interrogation procedures or in the regulations for the treatment of prisoners-of-war, which contributed to the abuses that occurred.

Question 9

The Stanford Prison Experiment tested the degree to which people will obey the destructive orders of a seemingly legitimate authority figure and deliver intense electric shocks to aninnocent person.

Accepted Answer

The Stanford Prison Experiment tested the psychological effects of perceived power by assigning participants as guards or prisoners, not obedience to authority through delivering shocks.

Question 10

The scientific study of conformity and obedience has demonstrated that people do not have the capacity to resistgroup or authority pressure and will inevitably conform and obey even though it may make them feel uncomfortable.

Accepted Answer

While conformity and obedience have been studied extensively, it is not true that people inevitably conform and obey without the capacity to resist. Many factors, such as individual differences, situational factors, and the presence of dissenting voices, can influence whether someone conforms or not. Furthermore, there are examples of individuals who have resisted group or authority pressure, such as those who have spoken out against social injustices or those who have refused to obey unjust laws.

Question 11

The Stanford Prison Experiment lasted for six months before it was halted.

Accepted Answer

The Stanford Prison Experiment lasted for only 6 days before it was halted due to the extreme psychological and emotional effects it had on both the guards and the prisoners.

Question 12

Multiple elements combined to create the conditions forbrutality at Abu Ghraib prison, including in-group versus out-group thinking, negative stereotypes, dehumanization, and prejudice.

Accepted Answer

Multiple studies and investigations have shown that factors such as in-group versus out-group thinking, negative stereotypes, dehumanization, and prejudice played a significant role in the abuses that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War. These factors contributed to a culture of violence and dehumanization towards the prisoners, making it easier for some of the guards to engage in acts of brutality.

Question 13

In variations of his original obedience experiment, Milgram found that if the experimenter left the room, destructive obedience greatly decreased.

Accepted Answer

Milgram's variations of the obedience experiment showed that when the experimenter was not physically present in the room giving instructions, participants were less likely to obey and comply with the authority figure's commands. This suggests that the presence of the authority figure plays a significant role in eliciting destructive obedience.

Question 14

Although some members of the military went along with the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, others protested them istreatment and reported it to authorities.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Some members of the military did report the mistreatment and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib to authorities, while others participated in the abuse.

Question 15

The prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were a mixture ofpetty thieves and other criminals, actual insurgents, and manycivilians who seemed guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true according to reports and investigations into the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

Question 16

Being at odds with the majority or with authority figures is very uncomfortable, can cause distortions in judgment and perception, and may lead many people to act in ways that violate their conscience.

Accepted Answer

Being at odds with the majority or authority figures can create psychological discomfort and cognitive dissonance which can affect judgment and lead to behavior that goes against one's values and beliefs.

Question 17

In variations of his original obedience experiment, Milgram found that the lowest level of destructive obedience occurred when the teacher was allowed to act as his own authority and freely choose the shock level.

Accepted Answer

Milgram conducted variations of his obedience experiment and found that when the teacher was able to act as his own authority and freely choose the shock level, the level of destructive obedience was lowest.

Question 18

In one variation of Milgram's obedience experiment, the teacher saw two other participants refuse to obey the experimenter. Under these experimental conditions, more than fifty percent of participants still administered the maximum shock value of 450 volts.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. In the variation of the Milgram experiment where two other participants refuse to obey, only 10 percent of participants administered the maximum shock value of 450 volts.

Question 19

Some of the Army Reserve guards convicted of mistreatment of Abu Ghraib detainees testified that they were praised for their behavior and believed that they were doing their duty.

Accepted Answer

Some of the guards convicted of mistreatment of Abu Ghraib detainees testified that they were praised for their behavior and believed that they were doing their duty.

Question 20

Lynndie England, the Army Reserve private convicted of mistreating detainees at Abu Ghraib, was trained as a file clerk,not a prison guard.

Accepted Answer

Lynndie England's military occupational specialty was 75B, which is a personnel administration specialist. She had no formal training or experience as a prison guard before being assigned to Abu Ghraib.

Quiz 12: Stress Health and Coping