Social Influence Flashcards
What is conformity
A change in a person’s behavior or opinions as a result of real of imagined pressure from a person or group of people
Group size definition
Aschoff increased the size of the group by adding more confederates, thus increasing the size of the majority. Conformity increased with group size, but only up to a point, leveling off when the majority was greater than three
Unanimity definition
The extent to which all the members of a group agree. In Asch’s studies, the majority was unanimous when all the confederated selected the same comparison line. The is produced the greatest degree of conformity in the naive participants
Task difficulty definition
Asch’s line-judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer. Conformity increased because naive participants assume that the majority is more likely to be right
What is internalization
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behavior, even when the group is absent
What is identification
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believes
What is compliance
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but disagree with it. The change in our behavior only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us
What is informational social influence (ISI)
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 as well. This may lead to internalization
What is normative social influence (NSI)
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance
What is the definition of social roles
The parts people play as members of various social groups. Everyday examples include parent, child, student, passenger and so on. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behavior in each role, for example caring, obedient, industrious
What is 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 behavior is not forthcoming
What are situational variables
Features of the immediate physical and social environments which may influyen a person’s behavior (proximity, location, uniform). The alternative is dispositional variables where behavior is explained in terms of personality
What is the definition of proximity in obedience
The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving orders to. Also refers to the physical closeness of the teacher to the victim (learner) in Milgram’s study
What is the definition of location in obedience
The place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location
What is the definition of uniform in obedience
People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority, for example police officers and judges. This indicates that they are entitled to expect our obedience
What is the agentic state
A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behavior because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure. This frees us from the demands of our conscience and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure
What is 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 individuals position of power within a social hierarchy
What are dispositional explantations for obedience
Any explantation of behavior that highlights the importance of the individuals personality. Such explanations are often contrasted with situational explanations
What are authoritarian personalities (AP)
A type of personality that Adorno argued 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
What is 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 influence by both situational and dispositional factors
What is 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 influye is possible
What is locus of control (LOC)
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 (internal locus of control). Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (external locus of control)
What is minority influence
A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuades others to adapt their beliefs, attitude or behaviours. Leads to internalization or conversion, in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours
What is 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. Consistency is effective because it draws to the minority influence
what is commitment
Minority influence is more powerful if the minority demonstrates dedication to their position: making personal sacrifices
This is effective because it shows the minority is not acting out of self-interest
What is flexibility
Relentless consistency could be counter-predictive if it is seen by the majority as unbending and unreasonable. Therefore minority influye is more effective if the minority show flexibility by accepting the possibility of compromise
What is social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change each others attitudes and behaviours.
- conformity, obedience and minority influence
What is social change
This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things
Eg - the earth orbits the sun, women’s suffrage, gay rights and environmental issues
What are the differently types of conformity
- internalization
- identification
- compliance
Who suggested the three types of conformity
Kelman
- 1958
Who suggested the two-process theory
Deutsch and Gerard
- 1955
What are the two main reasons people conform
- informational social influence
- normative social influence
What was the aim of Asch’s baseline procedure
To see what extent people will conform to the opinions of others
When was Asch’s study carried out
1951
What were the two tests in Asch’s baseline procedure
- standard and comparison lines
- physical arrangement of the participants in the study
What was the procedure for Asch’s baseline procedure: standard and comparison lines
- 123 American men
- two cards: one with standard line and other with comparison lines
- one comparison line clearly same as standard line
- had to say out loud which was the same one
What was the procedure of Asch’s baseline procedure: physical arrangement of the participants
- pps were tested in groups of 6-8
- only one genuine pps
- always sat last or second to last
- rest were all confederates
- gave the scripted answer each time
- genuine pps didn’t know the others were fake
What were the findings of Asch’s baseline
- genuine pps agreed with confederate incorrect answer 37%
- 25% of pps never gave the wrong answer
What are the three variables that cause conformity to increase or decrease
- group size
- unanimity
- task difficulty
When was the Stanford prison experiment conducted
1973
What was the aim of the Stanford prison experiment
Did guards behave brutally or was it because they have sadistic personalities or was it their social role
What was the procedure for the Stanford prison experiment
- mock prison
- planned to last two weeks
- 21 ‘emotionally stable’ men (student volunteers)
- pps were randomly assigned to either guards or prisoners
- pps were encouraged to conform to their social roles
- uniform: P had loose smocks, caps and were identified by numbers
G had uniforms to reflect their status, wooden clubs, handcuffs and mirrored glasses
- created a loss of personal identity (de-individualization) - prisoners were encouraged to identify with their roles by following procedures
- applying for parole instead of leaving
What were the findings of the Stanford prison experiment
- guards took up their roles with great enthusiasm
- prisoners rebelled within two days: ripped uniform, swore, retaliated with fire extinguishers
- guards used divide-and-rule tactic: harassed the prisoners; headcount’s, standing in line and answering to number
- after rebellion prisoners became depressed and anxious
- one prisoner released after showing signs of psychological disturbance
- one prisoner went on a hunger strike
- guards identified with their role more closely as time went on
- experiment had to be stopped after 6 days
What was the conclusion of the Stanford prison experiment
- social roles appear to have a strong influence on an individuals behaviour
- prisoners became brutal
- guards became submissive - roles were easily taken on by all pps
- even those who came in to perform roles (chaplain) found themselves behaving as if they were in a prison
When did Milgram preform his study
1963
What was the aim of Milgram’s study
Assess obedience levels
What was the procedure of Milgram’s study
- 40 American men (volunteers): advert in the newspaper paying $4.50 ph
- believed it was a study on memory
- pps were introduced to another confederate pps
- drew a rigged lot of wither learner or teacher. Genuine pp always teacher
- another confederate was the experimenter dressed in lab coat
- learner had to remember a pair of words. When error made shock was administered
- shocks from 15-450V
- learner stopped making sound at 315V
What were the 4 prompts given to the pps by the experimenter
- please continue
- the experiment requires that you continue
- it is absolutely essential that you continue
- you have no other choice, you must go on
When did the experimenter use the prompts
When the teacher refused to give a shock
What were the findings of Milgram’s study
- every pps delivered the shock up to 300V
- 12.5% stopped at 300V
- 65% continued to 450V (fully obedient)
- many participants showed signs of extreme tension: stutter, bitting nails, tremble
- 3 pps had full blown uncontrollable seizures
What was completed before Milgram’s study
-14 psychology students predicted their behaviour
- no more than 3% would administer the max shock
- the findings were unexpected
What percentage of people said they were glad they participated in Milgram’s study
84%
What was the conclusion of Milgram’s study
- German people are not different
- American pps were willing to obey orders
- suspected there were certain situational factors that effected obedience
What are the different situational variables in Milgram’s study
- proximity
- location
- uniform
What happened to the rate of obedience when the teacher and learner were in the same room - Milgram
Obedience dropped from 65% to 40%
How much did obedience drop when an electroshock plate was introduced - Milgram
- the shock was given to the teacher
- 30%
How much did obedience drop by during the remote instruction variation - Milgram
20.5%
