Social Influence

Question 1

Social norms 

Answer 1

Socially based rules that tell people what they should, or should not do in various situations 

Question 2

Social influence 

Answer 2

The process, whereby the words or actions of others, directly or indirectly influence a persons behaviour 

Question 3

Diffusion of responsibility 

Answer 3

One cannot be personally held accountable for their actions 

Question 4

Diminished awareness 

Answer 4

Shifting attention away from internal thoughts and standards, and putting it towards the external environment 

Question 5

Social facilitation 

Answer 5

The presence of others improves performance 

Question 6

Social impairment

Answer 6

The presence of others hurts performance 

Question 7

Social loafing 

Answer 7

People often exert less effort when performing alone 

Question 8

Conformity

Answer 8

To change one’s attitudes and behaviors, to make them consistent and fit in with other people 

Question 9

Public conformity

Answer 9

Not believing it, but conforming to the group because it is socially desirable 

Question 10

Private acceptance 

Answer 10

Using other peoples opinions, as evidence of what is right 

Question 11

Compliance 

Answer 11

Changing behaviour under pressure from others by request 

Question 12

Foot in the door technique 

Answer 12

Getting a person to agree to a small request, then gradually presenting larger ones


Question 13

Door in face technique 

Answer 13

Requesting a favour that is likely to be denied, then asking for a smaller one that is likely to be excepted and what was initially wanted 

Question 14

Lowball approach 

Answer 14

Obtaining a persons, verbal commitment, then increasing the cost of filling the behaviour 

Question 15

Aggression 

Answer 15

An action intended to harm another person/object 

Question 16

Causes 

Answer 16

There is no definitive cause, but there are five potential viewpoints 

Question 17

Aggression viewpoint 1: psychoanalytic

Answer 17

Aggression is an instinctive biological urge that gradually builds up overtime, and must eventually be released 

Question 18

Aggression viewpoint 2: biological 

Answer 18

Genetics—> behaviour is hereditary. Testosterone —>high levels are associated with aggression. Alcohol —>rid inhibitions of aggressive behavior. 

Question 19

Aggression viewpoint 3: learning

Answer 19

A child’s aggressive behaviour is reinforced by its outcome.

social scripts are mental files on how to act that are influenced by media 

Question 20

Aggression viewpoint 4: evolutionary 

Answer 20

Aggression helped prehistoric people with things like reproduction in food, which then transferred the aggression jeans to the next generation 

Question 21

Aggression viewpoint 5: environmental 

Answer 21

Frustration aggression principle = frustration can lead to anger which sparks aggression 

Question 22

Altruism 

Answer 22

An unselfish concern for the welfare of other people. Doing things out of a desire to help not out of obligation, despite personal risk.

Question 23

Genetic altruism 

Answer 23

Taking part in altruistic acts to benefit family members 

Question 24

Reciprocal altruism 

Answer 24

Altruism that is grounded on a shared, give/take relationship


Question 25

Group selected altruism 

Answer 25

Taking part in altruism, for people based on their group affiliations 

Question 26

Pure/moral altruism 

Answer 26

Assisting another person without any expectation of reward, motivated by internal values and morals 

Question 27

Prosocial behaviour 

Answer 27

Any action that benefits other people, no matter the motive, or how the giver benefits from the action 

Question 28

Deindividuation 

Answer 28

The loss of individual identity in the presence of large groups 

Question 29

Injunctive norms 

Answer 29

Behaviours that are perceived, as being approved by others 

Question 30

Descriptive norms 

Answer 30

Perceptions of how other people are actually behaving, whether or not they are approved of