8A/B - Influence Of Social Groups And Culture/Influence Of Obedience And Conformity

Question 1

Social Influence

Answer 1

How people change their behaviour or attitudes due to the direct or indirect influence of others

Question 2

Group Vs Collective

Answer 2

Group - two or more people who interact and influence each other
Collective - gathering of people who have minimal interaction

Question 3

Status

Answer 3

Status - Is the importance of an individual’s position in a group as perceived by members of the group

Question 4

Power

Answer 4

Power - Is an individual’s ability to control or influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of another person

Question 5

Types Of Power

Answer 5

Reward - give + consequences or remove - consequences
Coercive - give - consequences or remove + consequences
Legitimate - authority to exercise power over those with lower status
Informational - having resources or information that is useful and not available elsewhere
Expert - having special knowledge and skills that are desirable or needed
Referent - individuals identify with or want to be liked by this person

Question 6

Culture

Answer 6

Outlines the customs, behaviours, and values of a particular group in society

Question 7

Collectivist Vs Individualist Culture

Answer 7

Individualist-
- Value independence and uniqueness
- Dependence on others is discouraged
- Greater emphasis on career development
- Tends to be greater competition between individuals
- Individuals needs come before group need
Collectivist-
- Greater value placed on interdependence
- More importance placed on social roles and norms
- Social harmony and group needs are seen as more important than individual needs
- Individuals are more inclined to act in ways that benefit the group rather than the individual’s success
- Individuals are viewed as smaller parts of a larger whole

Question 8

Obedience

Answer 8

Complying with commands which are often given by a source of authority
The likelihood of obedience increases according to the status, authority and/or power of a person which can be identified through symbols and uniforms

Question 9

Factors Effecting Obedience

Answer 9

Group Pressure
An occurrence in which other members reveal whether they are obedient to the authority figure or not
Social Proximity-
The closeness between two people
Legitimacy Of Authority Figure-
Authority figure who has a higher position or status

Question 10

Conformity

Answer 10

The tendency to adjust one’s thoughts, feelings or behaviours in ways that are in agreement with those of a particular individual, group or social norms

Question 11

Factors Effecting Conformity

Answer 11

Culture - individualist cultures focus on individuality, personal achievement and independent, while collectivist cultures work towards group goals and encourage uniformity and values that promote group aims

Normative Influence - refers to how we conform with others because we want to be liked by them - and how we assume that our conformity with them will make them like us more

Informational Influence - refers to when a person conforms because they want to be right, so they look to others they believe might have more information

Group Size - refers to the number of people in a group

Unanimity - refers to a complete agreement that group members experience in terms of knowing the answer

Deindividuation - refers to how people act in a certain way because they can hide in the safety of numbers that group provides