Social Influence Flashcards
Explain what is meant by ‘conformity’ (3)
A form of social influence in which one has the tendency to change their behaviour, attitudes and values in response to the influence or real or imagined pressure from others.
Explain compliance as a type of conformity (3)
The weakest level of conformity in which one publicly agree with the majority, in order to gain the group’s approval or disapproval, but privately disagrees. It only results in a superficial change which is likely to occur as a result of NSI.
Explain identification as a type of conformity (3)
A moderate type of conformity in which once values an aspect of a group and behaves in the same way as them, only in their presence, but don’t necessarily agree with all their beliefs.
Explain internalisation as a type of conformity (3)
The strongest type of conformity where one makes the beliefs, values and attitudes and behaviour of the group their own because they genuinely accept their norms. This is a permanent public and private change, occurring as a result of ISI.
Explain what is meant by the ‘agentic shift’ (2)
When one shifts from an autonomous state, behaving according to their own principles and so taking responsibility for their own actions, to an agentic state.
Outline agentic state as a situational explanation for obedience (3)
This is when a person believes that the one they perceive to have legitimacy of authority will take responsibility for their own actions i.e they’re acting on behalf of their agent. This means that they’re more likely to obey in this state as they don’t believe they’ll suffer the consequences of those actions.
Outline how Zimbardo investigated conformity to social roles (4)
He set up a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University. They selected 21 male participants who were tested as ‘emotionally stable’. The students were randomly assigned to play the role of prison guard or prisoner. They were encouraged to conform to their social role through the uniform they were wearing and the instructions about their behaviour.
Outline one strength of agentic state as a situational explanation of obedience (4)
P - Milgram’s own studies support the role of the agentic state in obedience.
E - Most of Milgram’s participants resisted giving the shocks at some point and often asked the Experimenter questions about the procedure.
E - One of these was “Who’s responsible if the Learner is harmed?” When the Experimenter replied “I’m responsible.” The participants often went through with no further objections.
L - This clearly demonstrates the agency theory, because once the participant’s perceived that they were no longer responsible for their own actions, they acted more easily as the Experimenter’s agent. As Milgram suggested.
Outline the legitimacy of authority as a situational explanation for obedience (3)
We are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us. This authority is justified if they are seen as credible in terms of being morally good/right or by their position of power within a social hierarchy.
