Key Terms

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

A change in a persons behaviour or views as a result of real or imagined pressure from peers

Question 2

Internalisation

Answer 2

Deepest form of conformity. A public and private change in views/ behaviour. take on majority view as we believe it is correct

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

Act in the same way as the group because we value the group in some way

Question 4

Compliance

Answer 4

Simplest type of conformity. Publicly agree but privately disagree. Only lasts as long as the pressure does and so is temporary

Question 5

Informational social influence

Answer 5

Explanation of conformity the says we agree with the majority because we believe it to be correct. Lead to internalisation

Question 6

Normative social influence

Answer 6

Explanation that says we agree because we want to be accepted and liked. Lead to compliance

Question 7

Group size

Answer 7

Asch increased group size by adding more confederates. Conformity increased with group size but only to a point

Question 8

Unanimity

Answer 8

Extent to which all members of a group agree. In Asch’s when all confederates were in unanimity, conformity was highest

Question 9

Task difficulty

Answer 9

In Asch’s study, conformity increased when the task became more difficult

Question 10

Social roles

Answer 10

The parts people play in society of various social groups e.g. parent, teacher

Question 11

Obedience

Answer 11

Form of social influence in which an individual follows direct order

Question 12

Situational variables

Answer 12

Milgram identified several factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience

Question 13

Proximity

Answer 13

Physical closeness of an authority five to the person they are giving an order to

Question 14

Location

Answer 14

Place where an order is issued

Question 15

Uniform

Answer 15

People in positions of authority usually have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority

Question 16

Agentic state

Answer 16

A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for na authority figure

Question 17

Legitimacy of authority

Answer 17

Explanation for obedience which suggests we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us

Question 18

Dispositional explanation

Answer 18

Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individuals personality

Question 19

Authoritarian personality

Answer 19

Adorno argued this was a personality that was especially susceptible to obeying people in authority

Question 20

Resistance to social influence

Answer 20

Refers to ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. Influenced by situational and dispositional factors

Question 21

Social support

Answer 21

Presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others

Question 22

Locus of control

Answer 22

Internals- they are mostly responsible for what happens

Externals- believe it is a matter of luck or other outside forces

Question 23

Minority influence

Answer 23

Form of social influence in which a minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours

Question 24

Consistency

Answer 24

Minority influence is most effective if minority keeps same beliefs over time and between people in the group

Question 25

Commitment

Answer 25

Minority influence is more powerful if minority dedication to their position

Question 26

Flexibility

Answer 26

Minority influence os more effective if they show flexibility by accepting possibility of compromise

Question 27

Social influence

Answer 27

Process by which individuals and groups change each others attitudes and behaviours

Question 28

Social change

Answer 28

Occurs when societies adopt new beliefs and ways of doing things