Social Influence

Question 1

Compliance definition

Answer 1

The lowest level of conformity

A person changes their public behaviour (the way they act) but not their private beliefs

Question 2

Identification definition

Answer 2

Temporarily developing habits, attitudes or behaviours of a group if they value and wish to be in the group

Question 3

Internalisation definition

Answer 3

When an individual changes their public behaviour to fit in with a group while agreeing with them privately

Question 4

Informative Social Influence (ISI)

Answer 4

When a person conforms to the behaviour or opinion of the majority because they believe they are a source of the correct information

Question 5

Normative Social Influence (NSI)

Answer 5

A change in behaviour that is necessary to fit in with a particular group

Question 6

Asch’s line experiment to observe conformity (PROCEDURE)

Answer 6

Procedure
- 123 American men tested

• IV = Response of the confederates, DV = Participants response to the same question
• P’s saw two white cards: line X (standard line) on the left and lines A B C on the right (comparison lines)
• On each trial participants had to say out loud which comparison line matches the standards lines
• Participants tested in groups of 6 to 8
• Naive Ps always seated 2nd from last
• Confederates gave the wrong (scripted) answers each time
• Naive P didn’t know confederates were fake Ps

Question 7

Asch’s line experiment to observe conformity (AIM)

Answer 7

Aim: To investigate whether participants would conform and give the incorrect answer in situations where the correct answers are clear

Question 8

Asch’s line experiment to observe conformity (RESULTS)

Answer 8

On average, Naive participants agreed with confederates’ incorrect answers 37% of the time

• 25% of participants never gave a wrong answer (never conformed)

Question 9

Asch’s line experiment to observe conformity (CONCLUSION)

Answer 9

People are willing to ignore reality and give an incorrect answer in order to confirm with the rest of the group

Question 10

Variables affecting conformity

Answer 10

• Group size
• Unanimity
• Task difficulty

Question 11

Group Size aims and procedures

Answer 11

Aim: To investigate whether the size of the group would be more important than the agreement of the group

Procedure: Same as baseline. Varied number of confederates

Question 12

Group size Conclusions and Results

Answer 12

Rea
Conclusion: Results suggest most people are very sensitive to views or others because one/two confederates are enough to sway opinions

Question 13

Unanimity aims and procedures

Answer 13

Aim: To investigate if the presence of a non-conforming person affects the Naive P’s conformity

Question 14

Minority influence definition

Answer 14

A form of social influence where a minority (smaller group or one person) tries to change others views, beliefs or attitudes

Minority influence csn eventually lead to internalisation. Public behaviours are changed or adapted and private beliefs are accepted

Question 15

3 main processes in Minority Influence

Answer 15

1. Consistency
2. Commitment
3. Flexibility

Question 16

Consistency in minority influence

Answer 16

Over time the consistent message from the minority csn influence the views of the majority

Consistency can come in 2 forms
1. Synchronic - All saying the same things (everyone in minority)
2. Diachronic - saying the message for a long time

Question 17

What does synchronic mean [minority influence]

Answer 17

The minority are all saying the same message

(Consistency is what makes other people rethink their ideas - minority influence(

Question 18

What does diachronic mean [minority influence]

Answer 18

Saying the same message for a long time

(Consistency is what makes people change their mind)

Question 19

Examples of Synchronic/Diachronic [Minority influence]

Question 20

What does commitment mean [minority influence]

Answer 20

How far the minority group are willing to go to draw attention to their views

• Engaging in extreme activities
• Important the extreme activities have some risk to minority -> demonstrates commitment

Question 21

Aim of Moscovichi’s APRC 1969 [minority influence]

Answer 21

To investigate the influence of a consistent vs inconsistent minority

Question 22

Procedure of Moscovichis experiment (1969)

Hint: Think about conditions of groups/group size, aim, results and procedure

Answer 22

• Laboratory experiment
• 122 women split into groups of 6 asked to judged colour of 36 slides
• ## All slides blue but intensity of slides differedConditions
  1. Consistent minority
  Groups: 4x real participants x 2 confederates
  Confederates answered green for all 36 slides

2. Inconsistent majority
   Groups: Same as consistent majority
   4x Real participants, 2x confederates
   Confederates answered green for 24/36 of slides and 12/36 for blue
3. Control Group
   These group of participants had no experimental treatment/manipulation

Question 23

Results and conclusion from Moscovichi’s APRC (1969)

Answer 23

Results:
True participants agreed with consistent confederates green vote 8.42% of the time

Agreement fell to 1.25% with a consistent majority

Control groups got it wrong only 0.25% of the time

Conclusion:
Consistent minority influence can affect the majority, but the influence is weaker when minority is inconsistent