Social Influence

Question 1

Define conformity

Answer 1

A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure
from a person or group of people

Question 2

Define unanimity

Answer 2

The extent to which all members of a group agree.

Question 3

define compliance

Answer 3

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us.

Question 4

Define identification

Answer 4

A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believes.

Question 5

Define Internalisation

Answer 5

A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent.

Question 6

define (ISI) Informational Social Influence

Answer 6

An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation.

Question 7

define (NSI) Normative Social Influence

Answer 7

An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance

Question 8

define social roles

Answer 8

The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviours for each role, for example caring, obedient, industrious etc.

Question 9

Outline what is meant by situational Variables

Answer 9

features of the immediate physical and social environment which may influence a person’s behaviour. (eg. location, uniform and proximity)

Question 10

what are dispositional variables

Answer 10

personality influencing behaviour

Question 11

Define obedience

Answer 11

A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority.

Question 12

Outline SIT

Answer 12

Social Identity Theory-the study of the interplay between personal and social identities. When people act a particular way because they identify with that particular group

Question 13

define agentic state

Answer 13

A mental state where we feel no responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure. This frees us from the demands of our consciences and allows us to obey even a destructive authority

Question 14

identify the opposite of agentic state

Answer 14

Autonomous state-individuals seen as personally responsible for their actions

Question 15

what is meant by binding factors

Answer 15

aspects of a situation that allow the person to ignore or minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour—> reduces ‘moral strain’

Question 16

describe what is meant by Authoritarian Personality

Answer 16

A type of personality that Adorno argued was especially susceptible to obeying people in authority. Such individuals are also thought to be submissive to those of higher status and dismissive to inferiors

Question 17

Outline the psychodynamic explanation

Answer 17

FREUD- id ego and super ego
underlying human behaviour

when feelings cannot be expressed to the source they are usually displaced onto others who are perceived as weaker-scapegoating

Question 18

what is independent behaviour

Answer 18

activity that is not linked to other people

Question 19

social support

Answer 19

the presence of people who resist the pressures to conform can help others to do the same. these people act as models and show others that resistance to social influence is possible.

Question 20

what is LOC and what are the 2 different types

Answer 20

LOC is a factor that can affect our independent behaviour

internal locus of control-someone who believes they are in control of what happens to them

external locus of control-someone who thinks what happens to them is luck/fate and they are not in control of their actions, it is all external factors.

Question 21

resistance to social influence and LOC

Answer 21

People with internal LOC are more likely to resist pressures. if a person take responsibility for their actions they are more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs and thus resist social influence.

less need for social support

Question 22

research support for social support

Answer 22

Susan Albercht et al-

Program for pregnant adolescents helping them resist the peer pressure to smoke.
Social support provided by a lightly older mentor/buddy.

At the end of the program those with a buddy were less likely to smoke than those in the control group.

Question 23

Evidence for effect LOC on independent behaviour

Answer 23

Oliner and Oliner-

they interviewed 2 groups of non- Jewish people who lived through the Holocaust.
They compared 406 people who had protected and rescued Jews from the Nazis and 126 people who had not.
They found that the those who has rescued Jews had internal LOC

Question 24

Evaluation for social support using ASCH

Answer 24

In one of his variations one of the confederates was instructed to give the correct answer throughout

conformity fell to 5%

when there is social support people are more likely to resist the pressure to conform.

Question 25

Evaluation for social support using MILGRAM

Answer 25

In one of the variations the real ppt was paired with 2 additional confederates who also played the role of teachers.

When the 2 C. withdrew early the percentage of real ppt that went up to 450 V fell to 10%

if ppt has support for desire to disobey then they are more likely to resist the pressure of authority figures.

Question 26

define what is meant by minority influence

Answer 26

where one person or a small group of people influence the beliefs and behaviour of other people leading to internalisation where both public and private behaviour are changed by the process

Question 27

state the factors increasing effectiveness of minority influence

Answer 27

consistency
commitment
flexibility
style of thinking
identification
internalisation

Question 28

describe the importance of consistency for social influence

Answer 28

Minority must be consistent in their views so that the majority begins to question their own views

Question 29

name and explain the 2 types of consistency

Answer 29

Diachronic consistency refers to maintaining coherence over time. This involves a sense of continuity in beliefs, actions, principles, or identities across different points in time.synchronic consistency- consistency between its members – all members agree and back each other up

Synchronic consistency refers to coherence at a single point in time across different contexts, behaviors, or beliefs.

Question 30

describe the importance of flexibility for social influence

Answer 30

If the consistent minority is seen as inflexible, rigid, uncompromising, and dogmatic, they will be unlikely to change the views of the majority. However, if they appear flexible and compromising, they are likely to be seen as less extreme, as more moderate, cooperative and reasonable. As a result, they will have a better chance of changing the majority views

Question 31

importance of commitment

Answer 31

minority engages in extreme activities to draw attention to the cause.
AUGMENTATION PRINCIPLE- if there are risks involved in putting forward a particular view then those who express it will be taken more seriously as a result the impact of their position is strengthened and augmented

Question 32

Study to prove importance of flexibility

Answer 32

Nemeth- compensation study
when confederate argued for the same sum all the time and stayed consistent he had no effect
but when he compromised and moved towards the majority ,the majority lowered their amount slightly

Question 33

define what is meant by style of thinking in regards to minority influence

Answer 33

Systematic Processing: Thoughtful, detailed, and analytical; leads to stable attitudes.

Superficial Processing: Quick, relies on cues or shortcuts; often results in temporary attitudes.

Question 34

identification and minority influence

Answer 34

when the majority identifies with the minority

Question 35

define social cryptoamnesia

Answer 35

when social change occurs in society, the attitude or opinion becomes an integral part of the society’s culture and the source is forgotten

Question 36

describe the snowball effect

Answer 36

the way minorities convert majorities
Members of majority slowly move towards the minority and as the minority grows in size it gradually picks up momentum so that more majority members are converted to the minority view eventually the minority grows into the majority.

Question 37

define social change

Answer 37

when society adopts a new belief or way of behaving this is then widely accepted as the norm

Question 38

define social influence

Answer 38

process by which individuals and groups can change each other’s attitudes and behaviours. This includes conformity obedience and minority influence

Question 39

define identification and its importance on minority influence

Answer 39

if the majority identifies with the minority, then they are more likely to take the views of the minority seriously and change their own views in line with those of the minority

Question 40

describe the Blue-Green slides study by MOSCOVICI

Answer 40

Aim: To investigate the effects of a consistent minority on a majority.

he placed two confederates together with four genuine participants. The participants were first given eye tests to ensure they were not color-blind .

Procedure: They were then placed in a group consisting of four participants and two confederates. They were shown 36 slides which were clearly different shades of blue, and asked to state the color of each slide out loud.

In the first part of the experiment, the two confederates answered green for each of the 36 slides. They were totally consistent in their responses. In the second part of the experiment, they answered green 24 times and blue 12 times. In this case, they were inconsistent in their answers.

Question 41

outline the results and conclusions from Moscovici’s study

Answer 41

Results:
the consistent minority had an effect on the majority (8.4%) compared to an inconsistent minority (only 1.3% said green).

A third (32%) of all participants judged the slide to be green at least once.

Conclusion: Minorities can influence a majority, but not all the time, and only when they behave in certain ways (e.g., consistent behaviour style).

Question 42

research support for consistency

Answer 42

Meta analysis of studies similar to Moscovici and found that minorities who are seen as being consistent are most influential

Question 43

describe what is meant by the augmentation principle

Answer 43

when minorities engage in extreme activities to draw attention to their views they are taken more seriously by others.