Module 57 - Social Influence Flashcards
Social Influence:
The greatest contribution of social psychology is its study of how powerfully our beliefs and actions are affected by others.
Social Influence (sections)
1) conformity and obedience
2) group behavior
3) power of the individual
Conformity and obedience:
Behavior is contagious.
“Chameleon effect”:
Unconsciously mimic the expressions, gestures, and postures of others.
Conformity:
Adjusting our behavior or thinking toward some group standard.
Reasons for Conformity
Normative Social Influence
Social Influence
Informational Social Influence
Normative Social Influence: Results from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid rejection.
Person may fear a severe penalty for not conforming.
Informational
Social Influence:
The group may provide valuable information (makes sense to comply).
Informational Social Influence:
more likely when judgments are difficult and important.
Obedience:
compliance with the direct instructions (commands) of others
Group Influence
Social Psychologist also interested in behavior of individuals when present in a group (teams, committees, families) and the effects of interactions within groups.
Social facilitation:
Enhanced behavior on simple or well
learned tasks in the presence of others.
Social loafing:
The tendency to exert less effort on a task when participating with others (Latané, 1981).
Deindividuation:
Loss of self-awareness or self- restraint in group setting.
Due to arousal of group coupled with diminished sense of personal responsibility.
Group Polarization
enhances group’s prevailing attitudes through a discussion.
