4: Individual and Group Influence

Question 1

Definitions

Answer 1

Social influence- direct or indirect influence where someone changes the attitudes, beliefs, behaviours etc of another.
Compliance- changing ones behaviour to go along with a group while disagree with the group.
Obedience- tendency to comply with those in authority.
Conformity- most common form of social influence; act of matching attitudes, beliefs and behaviours to group norms.

Question 2

Milgrim’s obedience studies

Answer 2

Participants told to deliver increasing shocks to a learner when they were incorrect.
65% obeyed until the end (450 volts).
Almost all delivered slight to strong shocks.

Question 3

Resisting effects

Answer 3

• Increase participants responsibility of harm to others.
• Indicated total submission to authority is inappropriate.
• Provide disobedient models.
• Encourage participants to questions authority’s motives.
• Increase awareness of the power.

Question 4

Conformity

Answer 4

Asch- participants asked to indicate which three lines matched; gave answers after unanimous group gave incorrect answer.
76% conformed more than once; conformed on 36% of trials.

Later research- an ally disagreed with group; private responses.
Reduced conformity.

Question 5

Factors affecting conformity

Answer 5

Group sizes- larger groups likely to conform behaviours.
Unanimity- increases conformity.
Status- more likely to conform to those of higher status.
Culture- collectivist cultures show higher degree of conformity.
Gender- women more likely to conform than men while being watched; less likely when not.
Age- younger individuals more likely to conform.