Social Influence Flashcards
what’s conformity
a change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of peer pressure from a person or group of people
describe internalisation
a person genuinely accepts the groups norms, rustling in private as well as public change
these changes are likely to be permanent
describe identification
the person value something about the group, their behaviour is publicly changed to fit in
describe compliance
involves ‘going along with others’ in public but not chnaging behaviours privately
what’s informational social influence (ISI) as an explanation for conformity
the need to be right
cognitive process
more likely to occur in new situations where desions need to be made quickly
occurs when one person is considered an expert
what’s normative social influence (NSI) as an explanation of conformity
the need to be liked
emotional rather than cognitive process
more likely to occur in stressful situations with strangers
what did Lucas et al study as supporting research for explanations of conformity
asked students to give answers to mathematical problems that are easy or more difficult
showed higher levels of conformity when more difficult
more common in students rating maths ability as poor
what’s the procedure of Asch’s study
he tested conformity by showing ppts 2 cards one with standard line and the other with three comparison lines
1/3 lines was the same as the standard line
ppts asked to say which line (A,B or C) matched the standard line
123 American male undergraduates and 6-8 confederates
each ppt took part in 18 trial, on the 12th confederates gave wrong answer
what were the findings of asch’s study
25% of ppts didn’t conform
75% conformed at least once
the extent to which ppts conform even when situations are unambiguous
when interviewed they said they confirmed to avoid rejection (NSI)
what are asch’s variations
group size
unanimity
task difficulty
what’s a social role
the ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups
who conducted the Standford Prision Experiment
Zimbardo
what was the procedure Zimbardo’s prison experiment
mock prison was set up in basement of psychology department in Standford university
voluenteer sample, ensuring all were emotionsll stable
randomly assigned roles of prisoner or guard
guards - mirrored shades and uniform
prisoners - stripped, deloused, arrested from their homes, number given to remove identity
what where the finding of Zimbardo’s study
guards behaviour became a threat to prisoners psychological health
guards harassed the prisoners constantly
1 prisoner released on the first day as he showed signs of psychological disturbance
2 left on day 4
1 prisoner went on hunger strike
what conclusion was drawn about the prison experiment
everyone confirmed to their social roles within the prison
roles were easily tanken on by ppts
what was Asch’s procedure and findings to investigate conformity
123 American male undergraduates had to choose the correct line out of 3 that matched the standard line
75% of ppts conformed at least once
post-event interview revealed that they conformed to avoid social rejection
evaluate Asch’s research into conformity
strengths:
- research to support: Lucas et al and the maths problems, counterpoint; ppts with more confidence conformed less
weaknesses:
- research lacks ecological validity: artificial task, can’t be generalised to everyday tasks, risk of demand characteristics
- findings are hard to generalise: limited application due to sample ppts were all american males, others suggest females may be more conformists
what is resistance to social influence
the ability of people to withstand social pressure to conform to the majority or obey authority
when is an internal locus of control
life is determined by themselves
more likely to resist social influence
what is an external locus of control
life is determined by fate
less likely to resist social influence
what is an external locus of control
life is determined by fate
less likely to resist social influence
