Social influence Flashcards
Types of conformity
1
Q
Define the word conformity
A
adopting to the behaviours, beliefs etc of others
2
Q
What is meant by internalisation?
A
when a person genuinely accepts the norms of a group.
3
Q
DESCRIBE what kind of change happens to a person (their attitudes/behaviours) due to internalisation
-mention 2 things and why
A
-The change is permanent as attitudes have now been internalised
-It’s a long term change that remains both publicly and privately
4
Q
What’s meant by identification?
A
When a person identifies with the group so they want to be a part of it- usually because there’s something in the group that they value.
5
Q
DESCRIBE what kind of change happens to a person (their attitudes/behaviours) due to identification
-mention 2 things and elaborate on one of the points
A
-the change is short term
-the change is only public so that the person can be accepted by the group. Even if they don’t agree with everything the group does.
6
Q
What is meant by compliance?
A
when a person simply ‘goes along with the flow’ when with others but doesn’t change their personal views and/or beliefs privately
7
Q
What was Asch’s (1955) aim? (his study was on variables affecting conformity-not a hint)
A
To investigate whether people would conform, even when presented with an obvious answer
8
Q
Describe the procedure of Asch’s (1955) investigation using standard and comparison lines
(there’s four bullet points)
A
-Lab experiment with 123 male American participants
-Participants were presented with 4 lines; 3 comparison lines and 1 standard line. They were asked to state which of 3 lines was the same length as the standard line
-Confederates gave the wrong answer in 12 out of 18 trials
-Out of a group of 6-8 people, the participant answered last or second to last.
9
Q
What were the results of Asch’s (1955) study?
(mention two things)
A
-On average, participants agreed with the others’ incorrect answer 36.8% of the time (they conformed a third of the time)
-25% of the participants never gave the wrong answer/ never conformed.
10
Q
What can be concluded from Asch’s (1955) study?
(mention two things)
A
-People will conform to group pressure. Even in situations with an obviously correct or incorrect answer.
-This suggests that people are very sensitive to the view of others.
11
Q
What is meant by informational social influence (ISI)?
(also state what type of conformity it may also lead to)
A
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it’s correct and want to be right as well .
This may lead to internalisation.
12
Q
What is meant by normative social influence (NSI)?
(also state what type of conformity it may also lead to)
A
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.
13
Q
What were the three variables in Asch’s (1955) study that could affect conformity?
A
-group size
-unanimity
-task difficulty
14
Q
How did Asch (1955) investigate group size as a variable that could affect conformity?
A
-He varied the number of confederates in the group from 1-15.
15
Q
What did Asch (1955) find when investigating group size as a variable that could affect conformity? (include a percentage)
A
-He found that conformity increased with group size when there were up to 3 confederates, rising to 31.8% but levelled off after that.
16
Q
What kind of relationship was created between group size and conformity that Asch (1955) had noticed when investigating group size as a variable that could affect conformity?
A
a curvilinear relationship.
17
Q
how did Asch investigate unanimity as a variable that could affect conformity?
Also mention what was done in two (of his own) variations of the study in order to investigate this variable
A
he introduced a confederate who disagreed with other confederates.
in one variation the confederate said the true answer and in another variation the confederate said an answer that was still wrong but different to the other confederates.
18
Q
what did Asch find when investigating unanimity as a variable that could affect conformity?
state 3 things
A
-that the genuine participant conformed less often in the presence of a dissenter. (someone who objects the group opinion)
-the rate of conformity decreased to less than a quarter of the level it was when the majority was unanimous
-the presence of a dissenter appeared to free the genuine participant to behave more independently, even when the dissenter disagreed with the genuine participant.
19
Q
what could be suggested about conformity by Asch investigating unanimity as a variable affecting conformity?
A
that its less likely to occur when the majority’s view is not unanimous.
20
Q
How did Asch (1955) investigate task difficulty as a variable that could affect conformity?
What did this do to the participants?
A
-he increased the difficulty of the line-judging task by making the stimulus line and the comparison lines more similar to each other in length.
-it made it harder for participants to see the differences between lines.
21
Q
What did Asch (1955) find when investigating task difficulty as a variable that could affect conformity?
A
conformity increased
22
Q
what could be suggested about conformity by Asch investigating task difficulty as a variable affecting conformity?
A
that conformity increases when the task becomes more difficult bc the answer becomes more unclear to the participants which causes them to look for guidance.
23
Q
What is one limitation of Asch’s research?
(related to the situation Asch used to study conformity)
A
one limitation of Asch’s research is that it lacks ecological validity
24
Q
what evidence suggests that Asch’s research is limited?
(related to the situation Asch used to study conformity)
mention 2 things
A
-participants were asked to identify line lengths, which is a trivial/unimportant task that didn’t give them reason not to conform
-additionally, they may have been influenced by demand characteristics as they knew that they were in an experiment.
25
what do Asch's findings suggest regarding its applicability due to the trivial nature of the research?
that the findings don't generalise to real-world situations, especially in those where the consequences of conformity might be important.
26
What is one limitation of Asch's research?
(related to the background of the participants)
A limitation is that all of his participants were American men.
27
what evidence suggests that Asch's research is limited?
(related to the background of the participants)
mention 2 things ( one abt gender and the other abt culture)
-Research suggests that women may be more conformist, possibly bc they're more concerned abt social relationships and being accepted (Neto 1995)
-America is an individualist culture but similar studies in collectivist culture like China where the group is more important than the individual have found that conformity rates are higher (Bond and Smith 1996)
28
-explain why findings from asch's research is limited
(include 2 key terms)
-mention what this means eg "...means that asch's findings tell us..."
-bc the study took an ethnocentric and androcentric approach which limits its applicability across different cultures and genders.
-meaning that asch's findings tell us little about conformity in women and people from other cultures
29
what’s one strength of Asch’s research?
the support from other studies for the effects of task difficulty.
30
What is one strength of Asch's study?
a strength is the support from other studies for the effects of task difficulty
31
explain how evidence can support the strength of Asch’s research on task difficulty
-state who the evidence is from
-what it showed
-what does it confirm and why
-The evidence from Todd Lucas et al. (2006) supports Asch’s research by showing that people are more likely to conform when tasks are harder.
-This confirms Asch’s claim that task difficulty influences conformity, as individuals tend to rely on others’ answers when they feel less confident.
32
What did Lucas et al.’s study reveal about conformity?
(in regards to maths ability)
that conformity is more complex than Asch suggested; participants with high confidence in their maths abilities conformed less on hard tasks than those with low confidence.
33
What ethical issue arose from Asch’s research?
Participants were deceived because they believed confederates were genuine participants, which may raise ethical concerns about informed consent.
34
What ethical issues arose from Asch’s research?
Participants were deceived because they believed confederates were genuine participants, which may raise ethical concerns about informed consent.
35
Define social influence
the process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours
36
Wht was Zimbardo’s aim? (his study was on conformity to social roles-not a hint)
to investigate how easily people would conform to the social roles in a controlled setting
37
Describe the procedure of Zimbardo’s mock prison study
(there’s 6 bullet points)
-The basement of Stanford University’s psychology building was converted into a mock prison for a study with 24 American male undergrad volunteers who had all completed a test confirming that they were emotionally stable.
-Participants were randomly assigned roles as guards or prisoners, each having to wear uniforms & prisoners were identified only by numbers.
-Guards were given props (handcuffs, sunglasses) to reinforce their authority and limit eye contact with prisoners.
-Participants were prohibited from leaving the mock prison; guards worked eight-hour shifts while prisoners remained on site.
-Prisoners had restricted movement, allowed only in the hallway (acting as a yard) and to use the toilet, with guards being able to restrict their movement.
-Physical violence was prohibited, in line with ethical guideline. Participants’ behavior was observed throughout the study.
38
Wht were the findings of Zimbardo’s study?
(there were 5 things that were OBSERVED/found)
-guards became increasingly aggressive and authoritarian towards prisoners. The study had to be stopped after 6 days (it was intended to last 2 weeks) due to the extreme emotional distress experienced by prisoners.
-Guards used tactics to control prisoners such as physical intimidation, deprivation of basic needs and psychological manipulation eg. using solitary confinement
-prisoners were rebellious at first, but then became passive & submissive, losing their sense of identity and autonomy.
-1 prisoner went on a hunger strike,protesting against the conditions, but was force-fed and ultimately removed from the study.
-By the end, guards and prisoners had fully embraced their roles, making their behaviour resemble real-life prison dynamics; as guards. grew increasingly cruel, while prisoners showed significant signs of psychological harm (stress aand depression)
39
What can be concluded from Zimbardo’s study?
That social roles seem to have a strong influence on individual’s behaviour as the guards behaviour become increasingly brutal and prisoners more submissive.
40
what’s is a strength of Zimbardo’s study in regards to how the VARIABLES were monitored?
answer using the Point, Evidence & Explain structure
-point: A strength of the study is tht Zimbardo had control over key varibles
-evidence: the selection of participants. they were all emotionally stable and were randomly assigned their roles, meaning that if the roles were given only by chance, then their behaviour must have been due to the role itself rather than due to individual personality differences for example.
-explain: this degree of control over variables increased the internal validity of the study.
41
what’s a weakness of zimbardo’s study in regards to its applicability to actual situations?
(answer using the Point, Evidence &, Explain structure)
P- it doesn’t have the realism of a true prison
E- for example, one of the guards in an interview said he’d had based his performance the stereotypical guard role portrayed in a film
E- this showed that participants had changed their behaviour as they knew they were in a study and may have changed their behaviour 2 please the experimenter or in response to being observed, causing the study to suffer from demand characteristics and a lack of ecological validity. So, the study’s findings tell us little about conformity in real prison.
42
what’s a weakness of zimbardo’s study in regards to how he had presented the 2 social roles?
(answer using the Point, Evidence &, Explain structure)
P: Zimbardo may have exaggerated the power of social roles to influence behaviour.
E: For example, only 1/3 of guards actually behaved brutally. another third tried to apply the rules fairly. the rest actively tried to help & support prisoners. They sympathised, offfered cigarettes and reinstated privileges (2007). most guards were able 2 resist situational pressures to conform tot a brutal role
E: This suggests that zimbardo’s overstated his view that SPE participants were conforming to social roles and minimised the influence of dispositional factors (e.g personality)
43
define what is meant by the agentic state:
(mention 2 things)
-a mental state where a person doesn’t feel any personal responsibility for their behaviour because they believe that they’re acting for an authority figure, e.g. as their agent.
-this frees them from the demands of their conscience and allows them to obey even a destructive authority figure
44
define what is meant by ‘legitimacy of authority’
(mention 2 things)
-an explanation for obedience which suggests that we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us.
-this authority is justified by the individual’s position of power within a social hierarchy .
45
Define what is meant by the term ‘situational factors’
Also, state the three factors
Features of the immediate physical and social environment which may influence a person’s behaviour.
These are factors such as proximity, location and uniform.
46
Define what is meant by the term ‘proximity’ (as a situational factor)
The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they’re giving an order to.
47
Define what is meant by the term ‘location’ (as a situational factor)
Location refers to the place where an order is issued. the status or prestige associated with a location can affect obedience.
48
Define what is meant by the term ‘uniform’
the outfit that people in positions of authority wear to symbolise their authority. this indicates that they are entitled to expect the obedience of others.
49
define the term ‘obedience’
a form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order.the person issuing the order is usually a figure of authority, who has the power to punish disobedient behaviour.
50
Wht was Milgram’s aim (his study was on variables affecting obedience)
To observe whether people would obey a figure of authority when told to harm another person.
51
Describe the procedure of Milgram’s baseline study
(there are 6 points to cover)
1. 40 male volunteers aged 20 to 50 were recruited through newspaper ads and brought to Yale University for the study.
2. Participants drew lots to determine their roles, but the drawing was rigged so that the participant was always assigned the role of “teacher,” while the “learner” was a confederate .
3. The teacher used a shock generator with switches labeled from 15 to 450 volts to administer shocks for incorrect answers in a word-pair task.
4. As the shocks increased, the learner (not actually receiving shocks) provided pre-recorded responses, including protests and cries for help.
5. When the teacher hesitated to continue, the experimenter prompted them with phrases like “Please continue.”
6. The experiment recorded how many participants administered shocks up to the maximum voltage.
52
what were the results of Milgram’s study?
(mention 3 things)
-every participant delivered shocks up to 300 volts with 12.5% stopping at 300 volts (labelled as an ‘intense shock’)
-65% continued to the highest level of 450 volts. In other words, they were fully obedient
-participants showed signs of extreme tension such as sweating, trembling and groaning. 3 ppl experienced full-blown seizures.
53
What can be concluded from Milgram’s study?
individuals are often highly obedient to authority figures, even when it requires them to act against their personal morals, highlighting the powerful influence of situational factors on behaviour.
54
How did proximity as a factor affect obedience in Milgram’s study?
(mention 3 things)
-62.5% of participants obeyed when they were in the same room as the experimenter.
-this was reduced to 40% when the experimenter and the participant were in separate rooms
-this was even further reduced to 30% in the touch proximity condition (where the experimenter forcibly placed the participants’s hand on the electric plate
55
How did location as a factor affect obedience in Milgram’s study?
the baseline study was conducted in the prestigious yale university but obedience fell to 47.5% when a variation of the study was conducted in a run-down office block.
56
How did uniform as a factor affect obedience in Milgram’s study?
(mention 3 things)
-participants obeyed more when the experimenter wore a lab coat bc the uniform gave them a higher status and a greater sense of legitimacy.
-this was evident bc in a variation of the study, a ‘member of the public’ (a confederate) in everyday clothes took on the experimenter’s role. in this variataion, obedience dropped to 20%
57
what is a strength of Milgram’s study in terms of its research support?
answer using the PEE structure
P- a strength is that other studies have demonstrated the influence of situational variables on obedience
E- In Bickman’s field experiment, 3 confederates dressed in different outfits. They individually stood in the street and asked pedestrians to perform tasks such as picking up litter. Ppl were 2x more likely to obey the confederate in the security guard outfit than the one in the jacket and tie
E-This supports the view that a situational variable, such as uniform, does have a powerful impact on obedience.
58
what is a strength of Milgram’s study in terms of its research support?
answer using the PEE structure
P- a strength is that other studies have demonstrated the influence of situational variables on obedience
E- In Bickman’s field experiment, 3 confederates dressed in different outfits- jacket&tie,milkman and security guard uniform.Th confeds individually stood in the street and asked pedestrians to do things like picking up litter.Ppl were twice as likely to obey the confed in the security guard uniform than the one in the jacket&tie.
E-This supports the view that situational factors, such as uniform, can have a powerful effect on obedience.
59
what is a strength of Milgram’s study in terms of it replicability?
answer using the PEE structure
P- It’s highly replicable as the procedure has been repeated in other cultures.
E- Meeus and Raajmakers used a more realistic procedure than Milgram’s to study obedience in Dutch participants. The participants were ordered to say stressful things in an interview with a confederate who was desperate for a job. 90% of the participants obeyed. The researchers also replicated Milgrm’s findings abt proximity. when the person giving orders wasn’t there, obedience decreased.
E- This suggests that Milgram’s findings aren’t just limited to Americans or men, but they are valid across all cultures and apply to women as well.
60
what is a limitation of Milgram’s study in terms of ecological validity
answer using the PEE structure
P- A limitation is that the tasks given to participants aren't like those that people would encounter in real life
E- For example, shooting someone in the face is different from flicking a switch.
E-Meaning that the methodology lacks mundane realism, producing results which are low in ecological validity.
61
what's the opposite of the agentic state and give its definition.
-the autonomous state
-the state in which a person believes they will take responsibility for their own actions
62
define the agentic shift
when a person shifts from an autonomous state to the agentic state
63
define what is meant by agency theory
the idea that ppl are more likely to obey when they are in the agentic state as they don't believe e that they will suffer the consequences of their actions since they believe they are acting on the behalf of their agent.
64
define the term binding factors
aspects of the situation that allow the person to ignore or minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour and thus reduce the 'moral' strain they're feeling
65
what is a strength of milgram's situational explanations for obedience (agenetic state)
answer using the PEE structure
P- A strength is that Milgram's own studies support the role of the agentic state in obedience.
E-Most participants resisted giving shocks at some point, often asking the experimenter questions like, "Who' is responsible if the learner is harmed? When the experimenter replied "I'm responsible", the participants often continued the procedure with no further objections.
E-This shows that once participants perceived tht they weren't responsible for their behaviour, they acted more easily as the experimenter's agent.
66
what is a limitation of milgram's situational explanations for obedience (agenetic state)
answer using the PEE structure
P-the agentic shift doesn't explain many research findings abt obedience.
E- e.g It doesn't explain Rank and Jacobson's findings. In their study, they found that 16 out of 18 hospital nurses disobeyed orders from a doctor to administer an excessive drug dose to a patient. The doc was an obvious authority figure but almost all nurses remained autonomous, as did many of Milgram's participants
E- This suggests that, at best, the agentic shift can only account for some situations
67
what is a strength of milgram's situational explanations for obedience? (legitimacy of authority)
answer using the PEE structure
P- A strength for the legitimacy explanation is that it's a useful account of cultural differences in obedience.
E- e.g Kilham and Mann found that only 16% of aussie women went al the way up to 450 v in a Milgram-style study. But, Mantell found a very different figure for german participants- 85%.
E-Shows tht in some cultures, authority is more likely to be accepted as legitimate. This reflects the ways tht different societies r structured & how kids r raised 2 perceive authority figures
68
what is a limitation of milgram's situational explanations for obedience (legitimacy of authority)
answer using the PEE structure
P- legitimacy can't explain instances of disobedience in a hierarchy where the legitimacy of authority is clear and accepted.
E-Rank and Jacobson's study where the nurses disobeyed the obvious authority figure (doctor) .Most were disobedient despite working in a rigidly hierarchal structure.
E- suggest tht some ppl may just be more (or less) obedient than others. Its possible that innate tendencies to obey or disobey have a greater influence on behaviour than the legitimacy of an authority figure.
69
define the term 'dispositional explanation'
any explanation for why someone obeys that highlights the importance of one's personality factors or their own individual reasons (as to why someone obeys)
70
what is the authoritarian personality?
A personality trait where a person believes in strict obedience to authority, both submitting to those higher in authority and expecting submission from those lower.
71
how is the authoritarian personality measured?
using the f-scale, where participants rate their agreement w/ statements on a Likert-style scale
72
Give an example of a statement used in the F-scale.
Respect for authority and parents are some of the most important values which a child can learn.
73
What are characteristics of the authoritarian personality?
("a person may...")
-show an extreme respect (and submissiveness to) authority.
-view society as 'weaker' than it once was , so believe in the need for powerful leaders to enforce traditional values
-show contempt for those of inferior social status
-have a 'black and white' way of thinking, wont challenge stereotypes and avoid uncertainty.
74
How did Adorno explain the development of an Authoritarian Personality?
through psychodynamic theory, where a person’s adult personality and attitudes are influenced by childhood experiences, especially from harsh, disciplinarian parents.
75
What is scapegoating in relation to the Authoritarian Personality?
Displacing anger from feared authority figures, like strict parents, onto perceived weaker groups, often through reaction formation.
76
What was the aim of Adorno et al.'s study?
To investigate the unconscious attitudes of middle-class, white Americans towards other ethnic groups and to understand the characteristics of the authoritarian personality.
77
describe the procedure used in Adorno et al.'s study
-include 2 examples of items(statements that participants had to consider) from the f-scale
-they studied over 2000 middle class, white americans and developed several measurement scales including the F-Scale.
-examples: "Obedience and respect for authority are the most important virtues for children to learn" and "There is hardly anything lower than a person who doesn't feel great love, gratitude and respect for his parents".
78
what were the findings of Adorno et al.'s study
People who scored high on the F-scale identified with 'strong' people, showed contempt for the weak, respected authority, and displayed 'black and white' thinking with fixed stereotypes, showing a strong positive correlation between authoritarianism and prejudice.
79
what could be concluded from Adorno's study?
that people with an Authoritarian Personality are more likely to obey authority figures and hold prejudiced views against others. This is due to their rigid way of thinking, strong respect for authority, and belief in social hierarchies.
80
What is a strength of adorno's study?
answer using PEE structure
P- there is evidence from Milgram supporting the authoritarian personality
E-Milgram and Elms interviewed a 20 fully obedient participants from Milgram’s study. They scored significantly higher on the f-scale than a comparison group of 20 disobedient participants
E-Supports Adorno et al's view tht obedient ppl may show similar characteristics to ppl who have authoritarian personality
81
What is a counterpoint to the research (from Milgram and Elms) supporting the Authoritarian Personality and obedience link?
When Milgram and Elms analysed the F-scale subscales, they found that obedient participants did not fully align with authoritarian characteristics. E.g they did not glorify their fathers, did not experience unusual levels of punishment in childhood, and did not have particularly hostile attitudes toward their mothers. This suggests that authoritarianism may not be a useful predictor of obedience.
82
What is a limitation of adorno's study in explaining obedience across large populations?
answer using PEE structure
P- Adorno's Authoritarian Personality theory can't explain widespread obedience in large populations.
E- For example, in pre-war Germany, millions of people obeyed Nazi ideology and engaged in anti-Semitic behaviour, even though they were likely diverse in personality traits.
E: This suggests that obedience across an entire population is unlikely to be explained by authoritarian personality traits alone. Instead, alternative explanations, such as Social Identity Theory, may be more realistic, as they focus on how people identify with a group rather than individual personality traits.
83
whts a limitation of adorno's study in regards to the f-scale?
answer using PEEL structure
P-it relies of the f-scale which may lead to biased or unreliable results.
E- The F-scale measures authoritarian tendencies through a set of statements tht participants respond to, but these statements r worded in a way that could lead to acquiescence bias. This means participants might simply agree with statements rather than reflect true authoritarian beliefs.
E- bc the F-scale includes mostly "agree" statements, people might agree out of habit or without fully considering each question, which can inflate scores and make individuals seem more authoritarian than they are. This lack of balance in response options reduces the validity of the results, as it doesn't fully capture a range of attitudes and might not accurately reflect participants’ personalities.
84
what is LOC? (locus of control)
a measurement of an individual's sense of control over their lives
85
what do internals (ppl with an internal locus of control) believe?
mention 2 things
-they believe they have more control over their lives.
-they are responsible for what happens to them
86
what do externals (ppl with an external locus of control) believe?
mention 2 things
-they believe that they have less control over their lives
-tht what happens to them is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces
87
define the term 'resistance to social influence'
the ability to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
88
define whats meant by the term social support
the presence of ppl who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do so too. these ppl act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible
89
why are ppl with an (high) internal locus of control more likely to be leaders rather than followers?
bc they are more likely to resist pressures to conform or obey as they tend to make decisions based on their own moral code, rather than someone else's.
90
why are ppl with an external locus of control more likely to conform or obey?
-bc they believe that the majority of their life events are beyond their control, meaning tht they're more likely to act on behalf of
another (i.e. as their agent) and shift responsibility onto this individual.
91
give an example of a low external locus of control thought
‘I won the award because it was
meant to be – it was my destiny’
92
give an example of a high internal locus of control thought
‘I won the award because I worked
hard for it'
93
What personality traits are associated with a high internal locus of control (LOC)?
People with a high internal LOC are often more self-confident, more achievement-oriented, and have higher intelligence.
94
How does a high internal locus of control (LOC) affect a person’s resistance to social influence?
A high internal LOC leads to greater resistance to social influence because individuals are more self-reliant and less dependent on social approval.
95
what is a (there's only 1) strength of Rotter's research on locus of control?
answer using PEE
P- there's research evidence that supports the link between LOC and resistance to obedience
E- Holland repeated Milgram's baseline study & measured whether participants were internals or externals, finding tht 37% of internals didnt continue to the highest shock level, whereas only 23% of externals didnt continue. in other words internals showed greater resistance to authority in a Milgram type situation
E-resistance is at least partly related to LOC, which increases the validity of LOC as an explanation of obedience.
96
what is a (there's only 1) limitation of Rotter's research on locus of control?
answer using PEE
P- there's research tht challenges the link between LOC and resistance
E-e.g Twenge et al analysed data from american LOC studies conducted over a 40 year period (from 1960 to 2002). the data showed tht, over this time span, ppl became more resistant to obedience but also more external .this is surprising especially if resistance is linked to an internal LOC, we would expect ppl to have become more internal
E- LOC isnt a valid explanation of how ppl resist social influence
97
How did social support affect conformity in Asch’s study? (mention 2 things)
- the presence of a dissenting confederate who gave the correct answer reduced conformity in the real participant.
-This finding highlights that social support is a crucial factor in resisting social influence, as it decreases the need to conform, even in a majority situation.
98
How does social support influence obedience in Milgram’s study?
(mention 2 things)
-When participants had two confederates who refused to continue with the shocks, obedience rates dropped significantly.
-This shows that social support encourages resistance to authority by reducing the pressure to obey, because having allies who defy the authority figure makes individuals feel more empowered to act according to their own beliefs.
99
What is a strength of social support in helping individuals resist negative influences, and what research supports this?
answer using PEE
P- Research evidence supports the positive effects of social support in resisting social influence.
E- Albrecht et al. (2006) evaluated the Teen Fresh Start USA program, which provided pregnant adolescents with mentors. The results showed that those with a 'buddy' were significantly less likely to smoke compared to a control group.
E- This demonstrates that social support can effectively help young people resist peer pressure and social influence, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationships in real-world interventions.
100
What is a strength of having dissenting peers in resisting obedience, and what evidence supports this?
Answer using PEE structure
P- Research supports the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience.
E- Gamson et al. found that in their study, where participants produced evidence for a smear campaign, 88% of groups (29 out of 33) rebelled against their orders, indicating higher resistance than in Milgram's study.
E- This shows that having peers who dissent can encourage individuals to disobey authority by challenging the legitimacy of the commands, demonstrating the impact of group dynamics on obedience.
101
define term 'minority influence'
a form of social influence in which a minority of ppl (sometimes just 1 person) persuades others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. minority influence leads to internalisation or conversion, in which private attitudes and public behaviours are changed.
102
how does minority influence differ from conformity ( majority influence)?
in conformity (or majority influence), its the majority that does the influencing whereas with minority influence, its the minority that influences the beliefs and behaviour of ppl
103
what type of conformity does minority influence lead to ?
internalisation
104
state the three key factors of the minority required for them to influence other
consistency (with their view), commitment (to their view) and flexibility (with their view)
105
why is consistency important in minority influence?
consistency is important as it as it makes other ppl start to rethink their own views. E.g "maybe they've got a point if they all think this way' or 'maybe theyve got a point since theyve been saying this for a while now'
106
define the term 'synchronic consistency'
when the ppl in the minority group all agree w/ each other
107
define the term 'diachronic consistency'
when the ppl in the minority group all agree w/ each other and have CONTINUED to do so.
108
what is meant by commitment and why is commitment important in minority influence?
-when the minority demonstrate dedication to their position, sometimes by making personal sacrifices/participating in extreme activities
-bc it shoes the minority isnt acting out of self interest and causes the majority group members to pay more attention
109
why is flexibility important in minority influence?
bc relentless consistency could be counter-productive if its seen by the majority as rigid & unreasonable. therefore, minority influence is more effective if the minority show flexibility by accepting the possibility of compromise.
110
explain the snowball effect
the more ppl switch from the majority to the minority position (when each person does it means theyve been converted) , the faster the conversion.
111
Wht was Moscovici's aim? (his study was on Minority Influence)
To observe how minorities can influence a majority
112
outline the procedure Moscovici used to study minority influence
mention 5 things
- It was a lab experiment& participants were in a group where there were 2 confederates
(the minority) and four participants (the majority).
-Everyone was shown 36 blue slides, each with a different shade
of blue and they were each asked to say whether the slide was blue or green.
-Confederates deliberately said they were green 2/3 of
the trials, thus producing a consistent minority view.
-The no' of times that the real participants reported that the
slide was green was observed
- A control group was also used consisting of real participants only
113
What were the results of Moscovici's study?
(mention two things)
-When the confederates were consistent in their answers, about 8% of participants said the slides were green.
-However, when the
confederates answered inconsistently about 1% of participants said the slides were green.
114
What can be concluded from Moscovici's study?
that consistency is crucial for a
minority to exert maximum influence on a majority.
115
What is the augmentation principle ?
if a person demonstrates strong commitment or takes risks to express their beliefs, their opinion is perceived as more credible and influential. This principle suggests that such actions can enhance the persuasive power of their message, making it more likely for others to adopt that viewpoint.
116
Explain how consistent minority views can influence the majority opinion, referencing synchronic and diachronic synchrony. (4 marks)
-If all members of a minority share the same views (synchronic), this can persuade the majority that there is a compelling reason to agree. Over time, remaining consistent in their beliefs (diachronic synchrony) forces the majority to reconsider their own views repeatedly.
-This persistent challenge creates doubt due to conflicting perspectives, increasing the likelihood of the majority being influenced by the minority's opinion.
117
How does commitment from a minority influence the majority's views?
-The majority is more likely to be influenced by a committed minority. When the minority demonstrates passion and confidence in their viewpoint, it suggests to the majority that their perspective may be valid.
- This encourages the majority to explore the minority’s arguments further, creating more opportunities for them to be influenced.
118
How does flexibility in a minority group influence the majority's opinion?
-Being too consistent can make the minority appear inflexible, uncompromising, and irrational, which reduces the appeal of their argument. In contrast, if the minority is seen as flexible, compromising, and rational, they are less likely to be perceived as extremists.
-This perception makes them seem more reasonable, considerate, and cooperative, increasing the likelihood of influencing the majority.
119
whats a strength of Moscovici's study? (regarding research support)
answer using PEE
P- there's research evidence tht highlights the importance of consistency
E-Wood et al carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 studies similar to Moscovici's blue/green slide study & found tht minorities who were seen as being consistent were most influential
E- presenting a consistent view is a minimum requirement for a minority trying to influence a majority.
120
What is a strength of Moscovici's study in relation to minority influence?
answer using PEE
P- A strength of Moscovici's study is its contribution to understanding how minority influence can lead to significant social change in real-world contexts.
E- The study demonstrated that a consistent minority could effectively challenge and change the opinions of the majority. This is evident in social movements like the civil rights movement and environmental activism, where dedicated minority groups have successfully influenced public opinion and policy.
E-By illustrating how consistent minority influence can drive societal shifts, Moscovici's research underscores the potential for minorities to affect change and highlights that societal norms are not fixed. This insight is valuable for activists and social psychologists, as it enhances the understanding of social dynamics and the mechanisms that can lead to meaningful change in society.
121
whats a strength of social change
answer using PEE
P- Psychologists can explain how minority influence brings about social change
E- Nemeth claims social change is due to the type of thinking that minorities inspire. when ppl consider minority arguments, they engage in divergent thinking in which the thinker actively searches for info & weighs up more options. Nemeth argues this leads to better decisions & more creative solutions to social issues.
E- Dissenting minorities are valuable as they stimulate new ideas and open minds in a way tht majorities don't
122
What is a limitation of Moscovici's study on minority influence? Explain your answer with reference to the study's ecological validity.
P- it was conducted in a highly controlled laboratory setting, which may not reflect real-world social interactions.
E-Participants were asked to judge the colour of slides in an experimental environment where the majority was made up of confederates who were instructed to consistently express a minority view. This setup is quite different from everyday situations where individuals encounter minority opinions.
E-The artificial nature of the experiment may limit the generalizability of the findings to real-life scenarios. In real-world contexts, social dynamics are more complex, and people may react differently to minority influence due to factors like personal relationships, social pressure, or the context of the discussion. Therefore, while Moscovici's study provides valuable insights into minority influence, the findings may not fully capture how these dynamics play out in everyday life.
123
define the term 'social influence'
the process by which individuals & groups change each other's attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence
124
wht's social change?
a shift in the beliefs or behaviour of an entire population, resulting in a new widely accepted norm.
125
Which forms of social influence can cause social change?
Strategies include minority influence, an internal locus of control, and disobedience to authority.
126
What is the main cause of social change?
Minority influence.
127
How does a minority influence the majority?
By being consistent, committed, and flexible.
128
Why is an internal locus of control important in causing social change?
It helps individuals resist compliance and disobey authority to promote their viewpoint.
129
What is the snowball effect in social change?
the more ppl tht r persuaded, the quicker the rate of conversion 2 the minority view
130
Give an example of social change in society.
The shift in attitudes towards race and sexuality, where acceptance replaced discrimination, and racist/homophobic acts became illegal.
131
Why might social influence not always lead to social change?
Due to resistance to changing settled views, stereotypes, and preference for majority opinions.
132
whts a limitation of social influence as a means of achieving social change?
answer using PEE
P- One limitation of social influence in achieving social change is that it often operates slowly, leading to delayed effects
E- For instance, Nemeth argues that social change through minority influence is a gradual process that takes time to manifest, as the majority may resist addressing the core issues
E- This slow progression can result in temporary changes rather than lasting societal shifts, which undermines the effectiveness of minority influence as a reliable means of enacting social change
133
define the term 'social crypto amnesia'
by the time the minority view has become the majority view, ppl have forgotten tht it was a minority view.
134
What's a limitation of social influence in achieving social change regarding social barriers?
Answer using PEE
P- the presence of social barriers that prevent individuals from adopting new behaviours
E- Bashir et al. found that many people are reluctant to admit they recycle due to fears of being labelled as "weird" or a "tree-hugger"
E- stereotypes and societal pressures can inhibit individuals from embracing minority views, ultimately limiting the effectiveness of social influence to promote meaningful and lasting social change
135
define the term 'social barriers'
societal norms, stereotypes, attitudes, & pressures tht inhibit individuals or groups from expressing certain behaviours, beliefs, or opinions. These barriers can create obstacles to social change by discouraging people from adopting new ideas or practices due to fear of judgment, discrimination, or social isolation.
136
outline the process of social change:
(just say the terms in the write order)
1)drawing attention (through social proof)
2)consistency
3)deeper processing
4)the argumentation principle
5)the snowball effect
6)social crypto amnesia
