conformity Flashcards
what is social influence
how ppl are affected by the real and imagined pressures of others.
3 ways to yield to influence
obedience = direct commands from authority compliance = direct request from other conformity = norms of social group
3 ways to yield to influence
independence
assertiveness
defiance
when working with partner, the tendency to mimic their motor behaviour is called?
chameleon effect
mimicry as a baby
infants open mouth wide, tap fingers on table, wave bye-bye before clapping, flexing finger, putting hands on head.
mimic simple features first
why might social influence occur
facilitates social interactions
- more likely to mimic when want to belong
related to mood
- mood contagion: mimic face to get that mood.
define conformtiy
tendency to change our perceptions, opinions, behaviour in way that’s consistent with group norms
sherif’s autokinetic effect
optical illusion - looks like light moves.
- participated alone - common perception per person. differs btw ppl
- participated in groups - altho individually different measures, converged on common perception in presence of others
asch’s line judgement study
- line comparison by one subject while in group of confederates
- submit to group: publicly conform, privately different.
sherif vs asch
- conform for diff reasons
sherif = ambiguous. informational influence. private conformity
asch = non-ambiguous situation. normative influence. public conformity
why do ppl conform
- 2 types of influence
- informational influence = conform bc believe others are correct
- - ambiguous situation, external cue as info, influence internal belief
- - private conformtiy - normative influence = conform bc fear negative social consequences
- - clear cut situation, external cue influence behaviour. no change in internal belief.
- - public conformity.
how to tell difference between private and public conformtiy
private: maintain change after group is gone
public: when group is gone, no more compliance.
fMRI in mental rotation task
conform 41% of time
- activation of visuo-spatial area.
- no decision making bc no prefrontal active. group gave info that influenced.
conformity depends on ease of task & motivation
easy task
- low motiv = 1/3 conformed
- high motive = 15% conformed
hard task
- low motiv = 35% conformed
- high motive = 51% conformed.
4 factors of majority influence
- group size
- awareness of norms
- ally in dissent
- sex differences
majority influence - group size
conformity increase ith group size - to a point.
- after 3/4 ppl, more ppl doesnt have huge impact.
- collusion or spineless sheep.
- more persuaded by independence of ppl
what is law of diminishing returns
conformity increases with group size up until a point.
majority influence: awareness of norms
conform when know about and focus on social norms
- often misperceive normative. = pluralistic influence. drinking culture in universities.
majority influence: ally in dissent
asch’s study, w ally conformtiy dropped 80%.
- any dissent can reduce normative pressures to conform
- study: ally either choose 3rd option -wrong. or your correct option. breaks pressure to conform - regardless of the strength of ally’s position.
majority influence and gender influence
- sex differences depend on:
*how comfortable ppl are with experimental task. female conform to masculine tasks, male conform to feminine tasks.
*type of social pressure ppl face. - publically concerned about judgements. men - expected to be bold, fierce = conform less in public
women - expected to be docile = conform more in public.
minority influence
3 steps to exert social influence
- draw attention
- consistency
- unwavering.
consistent dissent approach
forceful, persistent, unwavering in your opinion
if not stubborn or rude - majority tends to rethink their decision
minorities influence by accumulating ??
conform to dissent strategy
idiosyncrasy credits.
how does majority infleunce ?
how does minority influence?
majority- elicit public conformity through normative pressures
minority - private conformity, conversion
relative impact of majority vs minority depends on judgement being subjective or objective
objective - majority influence impactful.
subjective - minority influence impactful.
what is compliance
changes in behaviour as the result of direct requests.
mindless responding
- language of request
phrasing of request can lead to compliance.
saying “because” increases compliance.
reframing question can peak interest for more compliance
norm of reciprocity
??? = feel obligated to repay act of kindness
treat others the way they treat us.
- high in exchange orientation. = short-lived
small request, secure agreement, make separate larger request
foot in door
why is foot in door effective
- small request, secure agreement, larger request.
- effective bs self-perception theory. infer attitude by behaviour. only successful when attribute compliance to self, or when motivated to be consistent with initial behaviour
secure agreement with request than increase request by revealing hidden cost
low balling
why is lowballing effective
secure agreement, reveal hidden cost & increase size of request.
psychology of commitment spreading the alternative start to like what we chose, harder to give up.
- cant suspect they’re being tricked.
- need sam person to reveal costs. more effective when publically make commitment than privately
large request, know itll be rejected, then make moderate request.
door in face technique
why is door in face technique effective?
large request rejected, 2nd lesser request accepted
perceptual contrast - large request makes 2nd seem more reasonable
reciprocal concession - respond to bargain, match with concession of your own.
- need 2nd request made by same person.
- first request cant be too extreme
somewhat inflated request, then immediately decrease apparent size by offering discount/bonus
that’s not all folks
obedience- define
behaviour change produced by commands of authority.
- told not to question authority, infleunced by symbols of authority
3 important factors that influence obedience
physical presence & legitimacy of authority figure
- lab coat, yale, on phone
victim’s proximity - further = cant see suffering. obedience decrease when close by
experimental procedure
- relieved responsibility for victim’s welfare = increase obedience.
- gradual escalation obedience, not immediate, strong obedience.
when will people conform to normative social influence?
social impact theory
strength: importance of group
immediacy: how close is group in time and space?
number: how many people in group.
