Social Influence (10.24 Lecture)

Question 1

social influence

Answer 1

a change in a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions due to other people (real or perceived)

Question 2

conformity

Answer 2

(everyone else is doing it) changing one’s behavior to be consistent with another group/ person

Question 3

why do we conform?

Answer 3

1. the need to belong (to “fit in”)
2. need for accurate information (conforming because others know something we don’t) informational conformity - if we think everyone is intelligent, why do we disagree?
3. tightness-looseness [culture] (strength of norms and punishment for deviant behavior)

Question 4

how does conformity relate to learning?

Answer 4

study of child poking even though its extraneous, assume they know something we don’t

Question 5

are there differences in how strong people view norms are? (ex. in US seen as “loose”)

Answer 5

took a survey of people from different races across US (hypothesized: no difference bc in US, norms for country norms, change in community norms)
results: found minority groups felt stronger norms on community (same across country)

Question 6

when does conformity decrease?

Answer 6

(Asch’s study) able to write down answer, having an ally (also disagrees with group)

Question 7

is conformity good or bad?

Answer 7

“wisdom of crowd” average response of the crowd is usually right

Question 8

can we control conformity?

Answer 8

(ex. DARE campaign) which tried to encourage people to not use drugs by shoving video of cool people selling drugs and then saying its cool to say no
results: actually increased number of people using drugs, bc made it a descriptive norm where selling drugs was made to look cool

Question 9

injunctive norms

Answer 9

prescribe what you should do (usuall explicit)
ex. speed limit 60 mph

Question 10

descriptive norms

Answer 10

describe what people do do (usually implicit)
ex. actually drive 80 mph

Question 11

injunctive norms

Answer 11

prescribe what you should do (usually explicit)
ex. speed limit is 60 mph

Question 12

(petrified wood study)

Answer 12

to keep visitors from taking wood: 1.no sign 2.don’t do it sign (injunctive norm) 3.others’ do it sign (descriptive norm)
results: second sign decreased theft, third sign increased theft

Question 13

compliance

Answer 13

responding favorably to an explicit request by another person

Question 14

Caldini’s 3 tricks

Answer 14

1. reciprocity (ex. Penny got Sheldon a gift, so Sheldon felt obligated to get Penny one) (ex. give mints to a table bartending at, come back after and give more bc “such good table” –> more tips)
2. consistent and commitment (foot-in-the-door technique)

Question 15

obedience

Answer 15

change in one’s behavior in response to the demands of a more powerful person (ex. mask wearing signs)

Question 16

why did the Milgram study occur?

Answer 16

1. authority
2. gradual increase in demands
3. novel situation
4. responsibility not assigned

Question 17

would Milgram fly today?

Answer 17

no, now considered unethical bc scarred people based on what they thought they did