Social Influence

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

Form of social influence that results from exposure to the majority position and leads to compliance with that position. It is the tendency for people to adopt the behaviour, attitudes and value of other members of a reference group.

Question 2

Identification

Answer 2

A form of influence where an individual adopts an attitude or behaviour because they want to be associated with a particular person or group.

Question 3

Informational social influence

Answer 3

Form of influence, which is the result of a desire to be right - looking to others as a way of gaining evidence about reality

Question 4

Internalisation

Answer 4

When an individual accepts influence because the content of the attitude or behaviour proposed is consisted with their own value system

Question 5

Normative social influence

Answer 5

Form of influence whereby an individual conforms with the expectations of the majority in order to gain approval or to avoid socials disapproval

Question 6

Conformity evaluation

Difficulties in distinguishing between compliance and internalisation

Answer 6

Relationship between compliance and internalisation complication by idea of public and private acceptance
Public not private = compliance
Public and private = internalisation

Question 7

Conformity evaluation

Research support for normative influence

Answer 7

Linkenbach and Perkins (2003)
Adolescents exposed to the simple message that the majority of their age peers did not smoke were subsequently less likely to take up smoking

Question 8

Conformity evaluation

Research support for informational influence

Answer 8

Studies demonstrate how exposure to other people’s beliefs has an important influence on social stereotypes
Wittenbrink and Henley (1996)
Ppts exposed to negative info about African Americans had more negative beliefs

Question 9

Variables affecting conformity study PROCEDURE

Answer 9

123 male US undergraduates were tested
Ppts had to look at lines of different lengths & took turns to call out how long the line was
On 12/18 trials the confederates all called out the same wrong answer

Question 10

Variables affecting conformity study FINDINGS

Answer 10

Conformity rate approx 33%
Without confederates, ppts made mistakes 1% of the time
Ppts confirmed to avoid disapproval

Question 11

Variables affecting conformity

Group size

Answer 11

Increased to 30% with majority of three

Campbell and Fairey - group size has different effect depending on type of judgement and motivation

Question 12

Variables affecting conformity

Unanimity

Answer 12

With one dissenter giving the right answer, conformity 5.5%

Dissenter giving different wrong answer, conformity 9%

Question 13

Variables affecting conformity

Difficulty of the task

Answer 13

If correct answer less obvious, conformity was higher

Lucas et al - influence of task difficulty moderated by individuals self -efficacy

Question 14

Variables affecting conformity

Evaluation

Answer 14

Perrin and Spencer - Asch’s research a ‘child of its time’
We know very little about the effects of larger majority sizes on conformity levels
Independent behaviour rather than conformity - ppts maintained their independence on 2/3 of trials and

Question 15

Conformity to social roles

The Stanford Prison Experiment : PROCEDURE

Answer 15

Male volunteers assigned roles of either prisoners or guards
Prisoners referred to by numbers only, guards given uniforms and power to make rules

Question 16

Conformity to social roles
The Stanford Prison Experiment
FINDINGS

Answer 16

Guards became tyrannical and abusive with the prisoners

Prisoners confirmed to their role with some showing extreme reactions of crying and rage

Question 17

Conformity to social roles
BBC Prison Study
Reicher & Haslam
PROCEDURE

Answer 17

Male volunteers, matched on social and clinical measures, assigned roles of prisoners and guards

Question 18

Conformity to social roles
BBC Prison Study
Reicher & Haslam
FINDINGS

Answer 18

Unlike SPE, neither guards nor prisoners confirmed to their assigned role
Prisoners worked collectively to challenge authority of the guards, resulting in power shift

Question 19

Compliance

Answer 19

Occurs when an individual accepts influence because they hope to achieve a favourable reaction from those around them.
An attitude or behaviour is adopted not because of its content, but because of the rewards or approval associated with its adoption.