Introductory Topics in Psychology - Social Influence Flashcards
1
Q
What is Conformity?
A
When the behaviour of an individual or small group is influenced by a larger or dominant group
2
Q
What are the 3 types of Conformity?
A
- Internalization
- Compliance
- Identification
3
Q
What is Internalization?
A
Going along with the majority and believing in their views. This type of influence is called Informational Social Influence
4
Q
What is Compliance?
A
Going along with the majority even if you don’t believe in their views. This type of influence is called Normative Social Influence
5
Q
What is Identification?
A
Conforming to what’s expected of you to fulfil a social role
6
Q
What did Sherif (1935) test?
A
The effects of Informational Social Influence
7
Q
Describe Sherif’s Conformity and the Autokinetic Effect Experiment
A
Method:
- Lab experiment with a repeated measures design
- Sherif used the autokinetic effect
- Pps were falsely told that the experimenter would move the light
- They had to estimate how far it had moved
- In the 1st phase, individuals made repeated estimates
- In the 2nd phase, they were put into groups of 3, where they made their estimates with the others present
- In the 3rd phase, they were then retested individually
Results:
- When they were alone, pps developed their own stable estimates (personal norms), which varied widely between pps
- Once the pps were in a group, results tended to converge and become more alike
- When the pps were retested again individually, their estimates were more like the groups estimates than their original guesses
Conclusion:
- Pps were influenced by the estimates of other people, and a group norm developed
- Estimates converged because pps used information from others to help them - they were affected by informational social influence
Evaluation:
- Lab Experiment
- Strict control of variables
- - Repeated Measures Design
- pp variables that could have affected the results were kept constant
