Key Terms Social Psychology

Question 1

Compliance

Answer 1

Publicly, but not privately going along with majority influence to gain approval/avoid ridicule

Weak/temporary and only shown in presence of a group

Question 2

Internalisation

Answer 2

Public and private acceptance of majority influence, through adoption of the majority group’s belief system

Stronger, permanent form of conformity, as it is maintained outside of the group’s presence

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

Public and private acceptance of majority influence in order to gain group acceptance

Stronger form of conformity, but still temporary - don’t always agree with the group

Question 4

ISI

Answer 4

Cognitive process because it is due with what you think, agree with the majority because we want to be right

Question 5

NSI

Answer 5

NSI is an emotional process rather than a cognitive one, agree with the majority because we want to be liked/avoid ridicule

Question 6

Locus of control

Answer 6

The degree people believe they have control over their lives. Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives. Internals believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them. Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces

Question 7

Resistance to social influence

Answer 7

The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability is influenced by situational and dispositional factors

Question 8

Agentic state

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Legitimacy of authority

Answer 9

An explanation for obedience which suggests we are more likely to obey people we believe to have authority over us.

Question 10

Autonomous state

Answer 10

To be independent or free. We behave according to out one principles and therefore a sense of responsibility

Question 11

Authoritarian personality (situational)

Answer 11

Explanations that focus on the influences that stem from the environment in which that individual is

Question 12

Authoritarian personality (dispositional)

Answer 12

Explanation of the individual behaviour caused by internal characteristics that reside within the individual’s personality

Question 13

Minority influence

Answer 13

A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. Leads to internalisation or conversion, in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours

Question 14

Flexibility

Answer 14

Compromise to get a deal with the majority.