Individual differences for independent behaviour

1. Moral Development: One individual difference that affects whether someone will act independently or not is their moral development. Those with a higher level of moral development are more likely to act independently than those that have a lower moral development. Kohlberg supported this by interviewing Milgram’s participants following the obedience study. He questioned them using moral dilemmas and found that the participants that did not obey the authority figure (refused to give shocks and left the study) had a higher level of moral development. However this research could be subject to interviewer effects such as demand characteristics (the participants answering in the way they think the interviewer wants them to) or social desirability (answering in a way that made them look socially good). Individual differences for independent behaviour

2. Gender / Culture • Locus of Control • Attributional Style • Learned Helplessness

3. Gender / Culture One individual difference that affects whether someone will act independently or not is their gender. Eagly and Carli found that women are more compliant than men and therefore act less independently. Smith and Bond found that individualistic cultures are much less compliant than collectivist cultures and therefore more likely to act independently. Showing that culture is an individual difference in independent behaviour. These pieces of research are both Meta Analysis's, by using results from a group of studies more reliable conclusions can be drawn than from one piece of research.

4. Locus of Control One individual difference that affects whether someone will act independently or not is their locus of control (Rotter). If someone has an internal locus of control they believe that they are in control of their own behaviour and outcomes, whereas those with an external locus of control believe their behaviours and outcomes are caused by external factors such as luck and fate. Those who have an internal locus of control are more likely to display independent behaviour as they believe they can have an impact. Anderson and Schneier supported this as they found that people with an internal locus of control are more likely to be leaders, therefore showing independent behaviour.

5. Attributional Style Attributional style refers to how we attribute events and situations. Someone with a negative attributional style attributes negative events as being their own fault and believing that they can do nothing to change the situation. Someone with a positive attributional style recognises situational factors in negative events and believe they can change the outcome. Someone with a positive attributional style is more likely to act independently as they believe they can change their own outcome. Heaven et al supported this by studying Australian students. He found that those who conformed to a rebel gang had a negative attributional style. However this study cannot be generalised to everyone as he used only Australian students – culture and age. The results of this study could also show the opposite as it could be argued that those who remained studious at school were the ones who were conforming to wider society. Therefore showing that a positive attributional style links to conformity.

6. Learned helplessness Learned helplessness refers to when a person has learnt through past experiences that their behaviour cannot change their circumstances. This then leads to them not acting independently. Seligman proposed this theory after his research with dogs. He strapped dogs to a platform where they received shocks and could not avoid them. When he then allowed the dogs to get away from the shocks 2/3 of them didn’t. they had learnt that their behaviours would not lead to any change. However this theory is based on research with dogs which cannot be extrapolated to humans. The research was also very unethical due to the harm that the dogs faced when being shocked.