Social Influence

Question 1

What is social Influence

Answer 1

The process through which the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors of an individual are changed by the present or actions of others

Question 2

What is conformity

Answer 2

Conformity can be defined as giving into group pressure. Conformity occurs when a person adapts, beliefs and behaviors of people in a particular group in response to either real or imagined pressure

Question 3

What are the 3 types of levels/types of social influence

Answer 3

Compliance (shallow)

Identification (Intermediate)

Internalization (deep)

Question 4

What is the baseline procedure of the asch study

Answer 4

123 male Americans used in total. Groups of 8-10 asked to complete a line judgment test for vision.

Participants around a table were shown 2 cards where they took turns to identify which 1 of 3 lines on the 2nd card is identical to the 1 on the 1st card. - Correct answer always obvious.

All participants except 1 were confedorates. Confeds gave unanimous wrong answers on 12 out of 18 trials ‘critical trials’

Question 5

Explain the concept of internalisation (3)

Answer 5

Internalisation results in a private aswell as public change of opinions/behaviour. This change is likely to be permanent the attitudes have been internalised - become part of the own persons belief. The change in behaviour stays even when in absence of other group members (ISI)

Question 6

Explain the concept of identification (3)

Answer 6

Individually agrees publically but not privately with the group. A temporary behaviour change as there behaviour is just to fit in with the group/ avoid rejection. Compliance is typically due to NSI

Question 7

Explain the concept of Social Influence (3)

Answer 7

The process through which the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors of an individual are changed by the present or actions of others

Question 8

What are the 2 types of Social influence

Answer 8

Normative social influence
Informative social influence

Question 9

Explain Informational social influence

Answer 9

Motivated by the need to be right. When in a new, uncertain situation, looking to see what others are doing and copy. Results in internalisation.

E.g. Starting college and copying the older year because “they know what to do”

Question 10

Explain normative social influence

Answer 10

Motivated by the desire to be accepted by others, inclined to conform to the group to gain acceptance. Results in compliance - change opinions publically not privately.

Question 11

Results of the Base procedure asch task

Answer 11

Overall conformity rate in the critical trials was 32%. 75% conformed atleast once. 5% conformed all 12 times