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
Agentic state
A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure i.e as their agent
This frees us from the demands of our consciences and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure
Legitimacy of authority
An explanation for obedience which suggests that we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us.
This authority is justified (legitimate( by the individual’s position of power within a social hierarchy.
Dispositional Variables
Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual’s personality i.e. their disposition
Authoritarian personality
Authoritarian personality
A type of personality that Adorno argues was especially susceptible to obeying people in authority.
Such individuals are also thought to be submissive to those of higher status and dismissive of inferiors
Resistance to social influence
REFERS TO THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO WITHSTAND THE SOCIAL PRESSURE TO CONFORM TO THE MAJORITY OR TO OBEY AUTHORITY.
This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
Social support
The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same.
These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
Locus of control (LOC)
Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives.
Internals believe that they are mostly responsible for what happens to them (internal locus of control).
Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (external locus of control)
What is meant by Minority influence
A form of social influence in which a minority of people (sometimes just one person) 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
What is meant by Consistency
Minority influence is most effective if the minority keeps the same beliefs, both over time and between all the individuals that form the minority. It’s effective because it draws attention to the minority view.
What is meant by Commitment
Minority influence is more powerful if the minority demonstrates dedication to their position, for example, by making personal sacrifices. This is effective because it shows the minority is not acting out of self-interest
What is meant by Flexibility
Relentless consistency could be counter-productive if it is seen by the majority as unbending and unreasonable. Therefore minority influence is more effective if the minority show flexibility by accepting the possibility of a compromise
What is meant by social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours. This includes conformity, obedience and minority influence
Define Social change
This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things. Examples include accepting that the Earth orbits the Sun, Women’s suffrage, Gay rights and Environmental issues
