social influence

Question 1

Define social influence

Answer 1

-A process whereby attitudes and behaviour are influenced by real or implied presence of other people

Question 2

Define social norms

Answer 2

-Rules and standards understood by members of a group
-Norms emerge through interaction with others

Question 3

What did Sherif (1936) study suggest about the autokinetic effect?

Answer 3

-Dot of light projected onto screen in dark room, appears to move but just a visual illusion
-Asked how long they thought the light had moved
-Conditions; judging alone and judging in groups of 3
-Individual guesses = 20cm to 80cm
-Group guesses = close to common estimate
-Individual guesses doen again and were then guessed closer to common estimate than initial estimate

Question 4

What did Asch (1951) find for rational process?

Answer 4

-Wanted to see if individuals would conform to group despite knowing the answer was incorrect
-Results found that they conformed to incorrect answer on 33% of trials
-Judging anonymously, this dropped to 12.5%
-They stated that they knew the answer was wrong but wanted to fit in

Question 5

What is informational influence suggested by Deutsch and Gerard (1995)?

Answer 5

-Ambiguous and uncertain situations
-Need to feel confident that our own beliefs are correct
-Shows true cognitive change

Question 6

What is normative influence suggested by Deutsch and Gerard (1995)?

Answer 6

-Need for social approval and acceptance
-Avoid disapproval
-Shows surface compliance

Question 7

Majority influence exerts social influence through…

Answer 7

-Public compliance via social comparison

Question 8

Define what is meant by minority influence

Answer 8

-Social influences processes whereby numerical or power minorities change attitudes of majority

Question 9

Minority influence exerts social influence through…

Answer 9

-Produces indirect, private change in opinions
-Conversion effect

Question 10

Describe Milgram (1963) study

Answer 10

-Electric shocks to confederate in mock learning study
-Incorrect answer = increase by 15v each time
-If ppt hesitated they were told 4 statements to encourage them to continue
-65% of ppts continued to 450v (highest)
-100% of ppts continued to 225v

Question 11

Define what is meant by agentic state

Answer 11

-Transfer responsibility of action onto the person who is giving the order

Question 12

What are the 4 factors affecting obedience?

Answer 12

-Gradual change and commitment
-Immediacy of victim - immediacy increased, obedience decreased
-Immediacy of authority - obedience decreased when experimenter gave instructions over the phone
-Legitimacy of authority - reduction of obedience when experiment was conducted in industrial setting