Groups, influence, compliance, conformity

Question 1

Social facilitation

Answer 1

The presence of others enhances performance.

Question 2

Social loafing

Answer 2

people work less hard in group than on their
own when no individual feels accountable or
responsible for group outcome

Question 3

Deindividuation

Answer 3

Loss of self-awareness and individuality (e.g. Stanford prison experiment)

Question 4

Important variables in Milgram’s obedience experiments:

Answer 4

• presence of authority figure
• perceived ‘expertise’ and authority
• disagreement of multiple authorities
• diffusion of responsibility (not pulling the lever, but simply ‘helping out’ somehow)

Question 5

Muzafer Sherif’s research in the 1930s

Answer 5

Group influence; conformity, using the autokinetic effect in groups. Group norms remained even if all individuals were exchanged one by one.

Question 6

Group size effects on conformity in Asch’s (1955) experiment.

Answer 6

3-5 people are necessary for the effect to occur. Conformity rates are not higher in groups of 16 than in groups of 5-7.

Question 7

Conformity rates if a participant can answer privately.

Answer 7

Down to 12.5%

Question 8

Conformity results of Asch’s original experiment:

Answer 8

1/3 of participants conformed with wrong answers. 3/4 conformed at least once.

Question 9

Overall average conformity rates across cultures.

Answer 9

31.2% (Smith & Bond, 1998)

Question 10

North America & Western Europe conformity rates in 1998.

Answer 10

25.3% (Smith & Bond, 1998)

Question 11

Types of social power:

Answer 11

Reward; coercive; informational; expert; legitimate; referent;

Question 12

% of subjects who delivered highest shock in Milgram;s (1974) initial experiment.

Answer 12

65%

Question 13

The Metacontrast principle

Answer 13

Minimise perceived differences within and maximise differences between groups.
Prototype of group internalized as cognitive
representation of behavioural norms.