Social influence Flashcards
What is the definition of conformity?
The tendency for a person to change their behaviour or beliefs in response to pressure from others in a group
What are the three types of conformity?
Compliance
Identification
Internalisation
‘Changing public but not private behaviour to match those of the group. It is a short term change’
Compliance
‘When an individual changes their public views and behaviours to match those of a group because they wish to be a part of it.’
Identification
‘Changing public and private views and behaviour to match those of a group’. Has genuinely changed their mind.’
Internalisation
What research supports conformity?
Asch (1951;1956)
Changing opinion or behaviour due to the belief a person or group has superior knowledge is referred to as what? What research supports this?
Informational Social Influence
Lucas et al:
- When problems became harder conformity rose
Changing opinion or behaviour because of the need to be accepted is referred to as what? What research supports this?
Normative social influence
Asch:
- Participants conformed to avoid disapproval
What was the aim of zimbardo et al (1973)
To investigate the extent to which people would conform to the roles of guard and prisoner in a role playing simulation of prison life.
Define Obedience
The following of orders from someone of a higher authority
How many students were involved with zimbardo and how were they recruited?
21 Students
Recruited through a newspaper article (volunteer sampling)
What makes the zimbardo study Androcentric?
The study only included males and was therefore unrepresentative of the wider population
Why does zimbardo lack temporal validity?
The era (1973) that he study took place in may have meant that there were higher levels of conformity to the social roles. Not consistent over time.
If a study has standardised procedures, it is referred to as having what?
High reliability
What was the real aim of Milgram?
To see if people would obey the orders of an authority figure, even if there was fatal consequences
Name some qualitative data showing the results of milgram
- Participants looked uncomfortable and under strain
- Some were sweaty or had seizures
- Some showed nervous laughter
- Many hesitant when pressing switches
Name some quantitative data showing the results of milgram
- 100% of participants gave 300V
- 35% stopped before administering 450V
- 65% administered maximum voltage (450V)
What was the conclusion of milgram?
Milgram concluded participants would obey the orders of an authority figure as participants administered shocks when ordered to by the authority figure.
Define the Agentic State:
The individual gives up their free will and no longer as acting independently. They believe they are acting merely as an agent implementing someone else’s decision.
Define the autonomous state:
When we are aware of consequences and responsibilities of actions and act and think as an independent individual, guided by our own conscience.
Explain how in an agentic state, you are diffused of responsibilities
We no longer feel we are responsible for our actions as we are ‘following orders’ and only behave this way because an authority figure told us to do so.
What is the term for feeling uncomfortable as a consequence of going against your own conscious and doing something you know to be wrong.
Moral Strain
Give two examples of Psychological defence mechanisms:
Repression
Denial
What is socialisation?
The process through which individuals learn the norms and values of society, leading to cohesion and a functional society
