Social Influence Flashcards
Define internalisation.
When a person genuinely accepts group norms. Results on private change of opinions and behaviour, as well as public.
Define identification.
We identify a group we value, and want to be a part of it.
Define compliance.
“Going along with others” in public, but not privately changing opinions and behaviour
What does isi stand for?
Information social influence
What is isi about?
Information- the desire to be right. If most people agree on something you are not sure on, you go along as you feel that they are RIGHT. It is a cognitive process.
What does nsi stand for?
Normative social influence
What is nsi about?
Norms- the desire to behave like others and not be foolish. Concerns what is “normal”/ typical behaviour for a social group. Regulates behaviour of groups and individuals so not surprising that we pay attention to them. Emotional process.
What was Asch’s research procedure?
Asch recruited 123 American male students. Each was tested individually with a group between 6 and 8 confederates. On each trial, participants identified the length of a standard line. On the first few trials confederates gave the same wrong answers. Each participant completed 18 trials. On 12 “critical trials” confederates gave the wrong answer.
What was the findings of Asch’s conformity research?
Naïve participants gave wrong answer 36.8% of the time showing a high level of conformity called the Asch effect (extent to which people conform). 25% of participants never gave the wrong answer (75% conformed at least once). Most participants conformed to avoid rejection (nsi) but privately trusted own opinion (compliance)
What was the procedure of Asch, Variables affecting conformity?
Group size: number of confederates varied between 1 and 15.
Unanimity: truthful confederate or dissenting but inaccurate was introduced.
Task difficulty: Asch made line-judging task harder by making the stimulus line & comparison line similar in length.
What were the findings and conclusions of Asch’s variables affecting conformity?
Group size: conformity to wrong answer was 13.6% with 2 confederates, with 3 it rose to 31.8%. Adding more made little difference.
Unanimity: dissenting confederate reduced conformity, even if they gave wrong answer. On average 25% wrong answers.
Task difficulty: conformity increased when task was more difficulty. ISI plays greater role when task becomes harder.
What was the procedure of the Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE)?
Zimbardo set up a mock prison in the basement of the psychology department at Stanford to test if brutality of prison guards was the result of sadistic personalities of created by situation.
They recruited 24 emotionally stable students and randomly assigned roles of guards and prisoners. Prisoners were arrested in their homes.
Prisoners’ routines were regulated, with 16 rules to follow. Their names were never used, just numbers. Guards had their own uniform and were told they had power over prisoners (could even decide when they used toilet).
What were the findings and conclusions of the Stanford Prison Experiment? (Prisoners)
After 2 days, prisoners rebelled against treatment. Ripped uniforms and shouted at guards (who retaliated with fire extinguishers).
The guards would punish them by doing constant headcount’s, sometimes in middle of night.
What were the findings and conclusions of the Stanford Prison Experiment? (Guards)
Guards took their roles with enthusiasm. Behaviour threatened prisoners’ psychological and psychical health:
After the rebellion was put down, prisoners became anxious and depressed.
3 prisoners were released because of signs of psychological disturbance.
One went on hunger strike; guards tried to force feed him and put him in the “hole” (tiny dark closet).
What was the procedure of Milgram’s obedience study?
40 male participants were recruited (aged 20-50) and paid $4.50 for showing up. A confederate (mr Wallace) was the learner and the true participant was the teacher. Experimenter wore a lab coat. Learner was strapped to a chair and wired with electrodes in other room. Each time a mistake was made, teacher had to give electric shock. Teacher was not told the shocks were fake. Shocks started at 15 v, and rose to 30-450 v. At 300, learner pounded on the wall and no response to next question. Experimenter said “absence of a response treated as wrong answer”. If teacher felt unsure, they were given four standard prods.
