Chapter 9: Quiz Flashcards
the scientific study of how we influence one another’s behavior and thinking.
social psychology
is usually defined as a change in behavior, belief, or both to conform to a group norm as a result of real or imagined group pressure.
Conformity
Participants in completely dark rooms were exposed to a stationary point of light and asked to estimate the distance the light moved. Thanks to an illusion called auto kinetic effect, a stationary point of light appears to move in a dark room because there is no frame of reference and eyes move spontaneously. During the first session each participant was alone in the ark room when making his judgement. then during the next three sessions he was in the room with 2 other participants and could hear the others’ estimates of the illusory light movement. The answers varied when participants were by themselves. Over the next three sessions the individual estimates converged on a common group norm.
Sherif’s Study
To understand why conformity was observed in Sherif’s study, we need to consider __________. This effect stems from our desire to be right in situations in which the correct action or judgement is not obvious and we need information.
informational social influence
sat at a table and looked at 3 lines then were showed a 4th line and asked which one of the other 3 lines the 4th line was most similar too. Each times judgements were made orally. There were many participants but only one was a real participant that didn’t know of the others connection to the study.
Asch’s Study
The reason for the conformity is Asch’s study is ________, an effect stemming from our desire to gain the approval and to avoid the disapproval of others. We change our behavior to meet the expectations of others. We go along with the crowd.
normative social influence
What are the factors impacting conformity?
Situational, Cultural, & Gender
______ factors that affect whether we conform.
1) Unanimity (more likely to conform)
Example: Asch found that the amount of conformity drops if just one of the confederate participants gives an answer-right or wrong- that differs from the rest of the group.
2) Anonymity (less likely to conform)
Example: If being able to write down answer rather than answering aloud the amount of conformity dropped dramatically.
3) Status Level (more likely to conform if you have a lower status level)
Example: A freshman is more likely to conform to what a senior does than the other way around.
Situational
_______ factors also seem to impact the amount of conformity that is observed.
1) Individualism emphasizes individual needs and achievement.
2) Collectivism, in contrast, emphasizes group needs, thereby encouraging conformity and discouraging dissent with the group.
Cultural
Evidence for _____ differences in conformity. They observed a high level of conformity for ______ participants, which is consistent with earlier reviews of conformity studies.
Gender; female
is acting in accordance to a direct request from another person or group.
Compliance
compliance to a large request is gained by preceding it with a very small request. The tendency is for people who have complied with the small request to comply with the next larger request. This principle is simply to start small and work your way up. One classical experimental demonstration of this technique involves a ugly sign. People are asked directly if this sign could be put in their front yards and the vast majority refused. However a majority of the people who had complied with a much smaller request two weeks earlier agreed to have the large ugly sign put up.
foot in the door technique
Why does the foot in the door technique work?
Once we have made a commitment we feel pressured to remain consistent.
compliance is gained by starting with a large request that is turned down and following it with a more reasonable smaller request.
Example: Friend asks you to watch their dog for a month and you refuse and they say well just for the weekend then and you agree but they just needed you for the weekend all along.
door in the face technique
compliance to a costly request is achieved by first getting compliance to an attractive less costly request and then reneging on it. This is similar to the foot in the door technique in that a second larger request is the one desired. However, the first request is one that is very attractive to you. You are not making a concession but rather getting a good deal. However, the “good” part of the deal is then taken away. Car sells men use this.
low ball technique
Why does the low ball technique work?
many of us feel obligated to go through with the deal after we have agreed to the earlier deal even if the deal has changed for the worse.