SOCIAL INFLUENCE Flashcards
What is Conformity?
A change in opinion or behaviour because of real or imagined group pressure from the majority of people.
What is Internalisation?
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct.
It leads to permanent change in behaviour and the belief is maintains even in the absence of the group.
What is Identification?
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value is and want to be part of it.
Doesn’t necessarily agree with everything the majority believes
What is Compliance?
A temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it.
The change in behaviour is only present when the group is there.
What is Informational Social Influence? (ISI)
The desire to be right
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct aswell.
This may lead to internalisation.
What is Normative social influence? (NSI)
The desire to be liked.
An explanation of conformity rhat says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and be liked.
This may lead to compliance.
Group size
Asch increased the size of the group by adding more confederates.
This increased the size of the majority.
Conformity increased with group size, but only up to a point, levelling off when the majority was greater than three.
Unanimity
The extent to which all the members of a group agree.
In Asch’s studies, the majority was unanimous when all the confederates selected the same comparison line.
This produced the greatest degree of conformity in the participants
Task difficulty
The harder the task, the more likely you are to conform.
Conformity increases as participants assume that the majority is more likely to be right.
What is meant by “social roles”
The “parts” people ply as members of various social groups.
Everyday examples include parent, child, student, passenger etc
These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role, e.g. caring, obedient etc
What is meant by obedience?
A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order,
The person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority, who has the power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming
Situational Variables
In his research, Milgram identified several factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by participants.
They are all related to the external circumstances rather that to the personalties of the people involved.
Proximity Location Uniform Agentic state Legitimacy of authority
Proximity
The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to.
Also refers to the closeness of the teacher to the learner in Milgram’s study
Location
The place where an order is issued.
The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location.
Uniform
People in positions of authority often have specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority e.g. police officers and judges.
This indicates to the rest of us who is entitled to expect our obedience
