Social Influence Flashcards
Asch’s baseline study
He planned a procedure to assess to what extent people will conform to opinion of others even in situation where answer is certain. He showed individuals 3 lines different in length and they had to answer, some were confederates others were participants.
Variables investigated by Asch
Group size
Unanimity
Task difficulty
Definition of group size
He varied number of confederates to see if it would affect the agreement of the group from 1-15. He found conformity increased with group size only up to a point. 3 confederates present conformity rose but just 1/2 confederates was enough to sway an opinion
Definition of unanimity
There was presence of a non-conforming person who would give answers that went against the majority of groups answers, sometimes correct was given other times incorrect. Conformity dropped because the presence of this individual made it easier to avoid conforming.
Definition of task difficulty
Asch made task more difficult-lines similar in length. Conformity increased as participants were unsure of the answer - they thought the group had better/more info than them therefore they went along with them.
Definition of anonymity
Asch allowed participant to write their answer on paper. Conformity dropped significantly as pressure to conform from the group was lessened by them not being able to see the answer given.
Limitations of Asch’s study
Task and situation were artificial: participant knew they were in a research study and may have gone along with what was expected(demand characteristics) task of identifying lines is not something you would do everyday. Therefore may have not affected their reactions, causing a lack of validity to the results of the study
Limitations of Asch’s study
Only American make undergraduates were studied: only using male American undergraduates limits ability to properly generalise the results to females, other nationalities and even younger and older generations. Similar conformity studies conducted in collectivist cultures showed conformity rates are higher therefore Asch’: findings tell us little info about conformity in women and other cultures due to specific sample of individuals.
Types of conformity
Internalisation
Identification
Compliance
Definition of types of conformity
Adopting behaviours, beliefs etc of another person or group
Definition of compliance
Where a person agrees in public with a group (to gain approval/avoid disapproval) but the person actually privately disagrees with the groups viewpoint. It is short term
Definition of identification
When individual agrees publicly on views of a group they join or admire because they identify or want want to be part of a particular group. However a persons private belief does not change
Definition of internalisation
Refers to instances where a person publicly agrees/behaves with a group of people as they have actually accepted the groups beliefs. This type of conformity does result in a change in the persons private beliefs/attitudes and is long term.
What are the two types of explanation for conformity?
Informational social influence
Normative social influence
Informational social influence
Informational social influence: when someone is influenced because they look for guidance as they’re uncertain how to behave. Go along with group as we have a need to be right, if we think others have better/more info than us. Likely to occur in situations we’re unfamiliar with when we’re unsure what the right thing to do is. Occurs when we think someone is more of an expert than us or in emergencies. Often leads to internalisation
Normative social influence
When someone’s influenced to fit in with social norms and values of a particular group and gain their approval (private views can still differ). Go along with a group because you want/need to be liked- avoid fear of rejection. Occurs with anyone: strangers, family, friends, it tends to lead to compliance
Normative social influence
When someone’s influenced to fit in with social norms and values of a particular group and gain their approval (private views can still differ). Go along with a group because you want/need to be liked- avoid fear of rejection. Occurs with anyone: strangers, family, friends, it tends to lead to compliance
Research support for ISI
Lucas et al found participants more likely to confirm when maths problems were difficult rather than easy. This supports ISI as it suggests people are likely to conform when something is unclear.
Research support for NSI
Asch found participants conformed to a clearly incorrect majority. When asked why they confirmed most did it to fit in (supporting NSI) during anonymity variation this became clearer as participants were less likely to conform if others didn’t know their responses
How do individual differences play a role?
Participants don’t react in the same way in experiments, some people care about being liked and fitting in whereas others do not care as much. Conformity rates depend on the individual
Can we separate NSI and ISI?
Often no, as NSI and ISI are involved at the same time.
Outline of Zimbardos study
Members of public signed up to participate and randomly assigned to be a guard or prisoner. Zimbardo wanted to see whether roles would be taken seriously, how far the experiment would go etc. majority of guard turned brutal and some prisoners went on strike due to awful treatment.
Procedure of Zimbardos study
Used 24 male Americans, supposed to last 1-2 weeks $15 per day. Randomly assigned prisoners and guards. Prisoners stripped naked, wore a gown, chain on their foot and a number for their name. Social roles were taken far, protests occurred. Guards could punish prisoners. Zimbardo was the the super intendant, set up in mock prison at Stanford university. They did tests to ensure they were emotionally stable
Results of Zimbardos study
Prisoners had breakdowns (emotional/nervous) they also protested against guards. Dehumanising and mistreatment by guards. Guards became confident and took roles to appalling levels. Due to all factors Zimbardo stopped experiment after just 6 days instead of 2 weeks. Within 2 days prisoners rebelled. Prisoner tried to leave 1st day. 2 prisoners left on 4.th day. One prisoner went on hunger strike
Conclusion of Zimbardos study
Be accomplished experiment. Guards became brutal but prisoners became submissive. People coming in performing specific functions found themselves behaving as if they were in prison rather than a psychological study. He didn’t tell them the full extent of procedure. Everyone confirmed to social roles. Zimbardos gf came in and ended up stopping experiment
Outline milgrams baseline study
American men participated in a teacher learner process (volunteer was always the teacher and confederate was always the learner - rigged) learner had to answer memory questions and if incorrect they got shocked by the teacher but each time they got it wrong the teacher would increase the voltage. They could stop if they wanted but were manipulated to carry on his authority figure.
What was milgrams aim?
Wanted to understand why a high proportion of German population obeyed Hitlers commands. He decided to test the idea that Germans were different to people of other countries and they simply have been more obedient.
What was Milgrams procedure?
He posted image in newspaper for participants-paid £4.50. 40 American men (20-50) took part, Yale uni and told it was baseline study based on memory. Introduced to another participant (confederate) and drew sticks - rigged so confederate was always learned and participant was always teacher. Experimenter also involved dressed in grey lab coat (confederate). Teacher was given a genuine shock beforehand and then learned strapped to chair and every time they got a pair of words wrong they got a shock, voltage they got ‘shocked’ with ^ everytime they got answer wrong (slight shock to intense shock) 15 V to 450 V. When teacher got to 300 V they pounded on wall and did not give a response for rest of study. 315 V he pounded 1 last time and remained silent for rest of study.
What were the results of Milgrams study?
All participants went to 300 V (intense shock) with 12.5% stopping here (5 participants) 65% continued to 450 V - fully obedient. Milgrams also observed many participants showed signs of extreme anxiety, tension many were seen to sweat, dig fingernails into hands, tremble, stutter etc
What were conclusions of Milgrams study?
Concluded Germans were not just different from others as American participants were also willing to obey orders even when they’d knew they were harming another persons. He felt as though there were other factors in the situation that encouraged obedience.
What are some evaluation points of Milgrams study?
Research support…
Low internal validity…
External validity…
Ethical issues…
80% of contestants of game show delivered max shock of 460 V to apparently unconscious man and they displayed similar behaviour to Milgrams participants
Orne and Holland suggest participants were only responding to demand characteristics and only behaved how they did because they didn’t believe the set up and simply what they thought the experimenter wanted them to do
hofling et al studied nurses on hospital ward and found 21/22 nurses willing to administer a lethal dose of fake drugs to patients, shows the results of Milgrams study research can be generalised to other situations.
Participants in the study were deceived on the aims of the study, allocations of roles and nature of shocks. However Milgram did debrief his participants and a questionaire showed 84% were glad to have taken part.
What 4 things could experimenter say to order participant (teacher) to continue?
Please continue
The experiment requires you to continue
It is absolutely essential you continue
You have no other choice you must go on
What are the variations of Milgrams study?
Proximity
Uniform
Location
What is proximity and how is it related to Milgrams study?
How close an authority figure is to the person they’re giving an order to as well as how close the ‘teacher’ and ‘learner’ were to each other.
Experimenter was sat in same room and teacher but learned and teacher could not see each other.
3 variations:
Teacher and leaner in same room - 40% Teacher forces learners hand on shock plate- 30%
Experimenter gave orders by phone: 20.5%
Teachers less likely to obey when same room as learner as they’re no longer protected against the consequences of their actions. Least obedient when experimenter is not physically present by giving lower V shocks than ordered or skipping them entirely
What is location and how is it related to Milgrams study?
Place where an order is issued-relevant factor that influences obedience is the status associated with the location.
Milgram conducted his study in a run down office block rather than in the Yale uni setting (the baseline of the study)
What is uniform and how does it relate to Milgrams study?
People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority, means they’re entitled to expect our obedience.
In baseline study the experimenter wore a grey lab coat as a symbol as his authority.
What is a weakness of Milgrams study?
It has low internal validity- orne and Holland proposed the idea that particpants may have been aware it was fake e.g. when experimenter was replaced with a member of the public (that doesn’t happen regularly). In all of Milgrams studies it’s unclear whether the findings are genuinely due to the operation of obedience or because participants saw through deception and just ‘’play-acted”
What is the agentic state?
Mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an autonomy figure
What is the autonomous state?
Being aware of the consequences of one’s own actions and therefore taking voluntary control of one’s own behaviour.
This explains why some individuals act independently rather than obediently as in an agentic state
What’s the process going from agentic state to autonomous state?
When someone perceived somebody else as an authority figure. Agentic shift occurs going from autonomous state ( free to act according to our own conscience ) to agentic state
What are binding factors?
Aspects of the situation that allow the person to ignore or minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour and this reduce moral strain they’re feeling ( shift responsibility onto victims)
Research support for the agentic state…
Milgrams Own studies support role of agentic state in obedience.
Majority of Milgrams participants asked experimenter questions about procedure like “who is responsible if learner is harmed?” - because experimenter said he would be responsible, the participant’s fully obeyed
How can agentic shift be considered a limited explanation?
Agentic shift does not explain many research findings about obedience.
Agentic shift can only account for some situations of obedience.
What is legitimacy of authority?
Explanation for obedience that suggests we’re more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us. This authority is justified by the individuals position or power within a social hierarchy
What is destructive authority?
Legitimate authority figure that leads you down a destructive path e.g. hitler
How does this take into account cultural differences over the years?
Kilman and Mann only 16% of Australian women went to 450 volts whereas montell found 85% of Germans did
Why might it not explain all types of obedience?
Rank and Jacobson found 16/18 nurses disobeyed orders from doctor to administer a dangerous drug to a patient despite the legitimate authority a doctor would have. However not all obedience can be explained and other factors may be important.
What is an authoritarian personality?
A type of personality that Adorno argued was especially susceptible to obeying people in authority. Such individuals are thought to be of a higher status than others.
Characteristics of an auhoritarian personality…
Obedient to authority
Show extreme respect to authority
Contempt for those considered to be in an inferior class
Hugh conventional attitudes towards sex, race and gender
Believe in strong leaders to enforce traditional values
Believe everything is right/wrong
Likely to have strict upbringing
Unaccepting of new ideas
Outline adornos baseline study…
What was the aim of adornos study?
He wanted to test the idea that obedience and personality are linked
What was the procedure of Adornos study?
Interviewed 2000+ middle clsss white Americans
Various scales were used to measure they attitudes (including f-scale) towards other racial groups
What were the results of Adornos study?
Those who scored highly on f - scale identify with strong people and looked down on weak
Awareness of own/others status- showing greater respect to those of higher status
Has distinctive stereotypes of different people
Strong correlation between authoritarianism and prejudice
What does the f-scale stand for?
Facism scale
What are some evaluation points of the study?
Research support - fully obedient participants from Milgrams study - rated highly on f-scale
Unlikely so many people have strict upbringing and similar personality (cannot account for obedience of entire social groups)
F-scale flawed due to acquiescence bias (tendency to agree) and researchers bias
What is and how can you resist conformity?
The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority.
Influenced by both positional and dispositions factors.
What is a locus of control?
Sense we each have about what directs the events in our lives. You can be internal, external or a mixture of both (average)
What does having an internal locus of control mean?
Believe they’re mostly responsible for what happens to them.
What does having an external locus of control mean?
Believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (people) who decide the events in our lives.
What is social support?
Presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same.
Who are more likely to be able to resist social influence? Internal LOC or external LOC…
People with high internal LOC; they take responsibility for their own actions. Base decisions on own beliefs rather than others.
Minority influence, what is it?
A form of social influence which a minority of people persuaded others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.
Private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours.
What are 3 things a minority influence must be?
Consistent
Committed
Flexible
What’s consistency?
It’s when the minority influence is most effective when they keep the same beliefs both overtime and between all individuals.
What are the 2 types of consistency? And what do they do…
Synchronic- they’re all saying the same thing
Diachronic- they’ve been saying the same thing for sometime now
What is commitment?
Minority influence is more powerful if it demonstrates dedication to their position e.g. making personal sacrifices.
What’s flexibility?
Relentless consistency could be counterproductive if it’s seen unreasonable. Therefore minority influence is more effective if it shows flexibility by accepting the possibility of compromise.
What is the research support for consistency? Moscovici…
Blue/green slide study show’s consistent minority opinion has greater effect on changing the views of other people than an inconsistent opinion.
Wood et al carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies Anne found minorities who were seen as being consistent were most influential.
What is social influence?
Process by which individuals and groups change each others attitudes and behaviours
What’s social change?
When societies adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things.
Name the six stages of the “six stage process of social change”
Draw attention
Consistency
Deeper processing
Augmentation principle
Snowball effect
Social cryptomnesia
What does each stage mean (draw attention, consistency, deeper processing, augmentation principle, snowball effect, social cryptomnesia)
Provide social proof of the issue at hand- civil rights marches drew attention to racism
Synchronic and diachronic- minority display a message and intent
Make people start to think about the issues because it’s different
Individuals engage in risky acts to show their dedication
More and more people began to accept the issuer until is becomes the majority view
People forget the events that led to changes
