social influence Flashcards
social influence is expressed though…
social facilitation, which is how the physical appearance of others influence our behaviour
(more likely to laugh if others do, bigger the crown the more we eat, cockroaches run faster in presence of othesr)
the presence of others can have – effects
Schmitt: when others are present simple task ability is improved and complex task ability is decreased
others can either facilitate or inhibit behaviour
what is the Drive Theory of Facilitation
(Zanjonc)
an explanation of social facilitation…
the presence of others can lead to increased arousal which strengthens the display of our dominant response. If our dominant response is appropriate, our performance is enhanced. If our dominant response in inappropriate, our performance is impaired.
So if you are good at something you do better when people are watching - opposite for vice versa
Example fo the Drive Theory of Facilitation
Micheals et al. investigated pool players’ accuracy in presence of others:
- good players increased accuracy from 71-80%
- bad players decreased accuracy form 35 - 25%
Diffusion of Responsibility
when we are in groups - norms/ values etc goes out the window…
it is the idea that as group size increased, individual responsibility decreases.
Experiment: smoke comes out vent in waiting room:
- in group: 1% acted immediately
- alone: 75% acted immediately
What is de-individualization?
When people are around others they lose self awareness and begin to feel anonymous.
When aroused the loss in self awareness works to disinhibit impulses that are normally kept in check. (lynch mobs etc)
A decrease in self-awareness leads to an increase in anti-social behaviour. Anonymity leads to aggression (Zimbardo)
Halloween experiment: 34% took extra sweets, only 12% when presented with mirror
Conformity - Solomen Asch
results showed that 75% went along with the majority - only conformity not real change however.
Influence can change belief…
Newcomb: looked at social and political attitudes in a liberal college in US. College recruited students from liberal backgrounds by the time they left, they were more liberal
