Social Influence Flashcards
Conformity
A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real of imagined pressure from a person or group.
Internalisation
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a permanent change in behaviour even when the group is absent.
Identification
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. Doesn’t mean we privately agree.
Compliance
A temporary and fake type of conformity. We outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree. It only lasts when we’re with the group.
Informational social influence (ISI)
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it’s correct, so we want to be correct too. This may lead to internalisation.
Normative social influence (NSI)
An explantion of conformity that says that we agree with the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval. This may lead to compliance.
Evaluation of conformity-types and explanations
Research for ISI- Lucas et al- asked students to give answers to a maths problems that were both easy/difficult. There was greater conformity for difficult questions.
Individual differences for NSI- some people are less concerned about being right. (McGee and Teevan- nAffiliators).
Conformity- Asch’s research (procedures)
Showed 2 cards, one with a line on and 3 different lines to compare the right one to. In groups of 6-8 confederates.
Asch’s findings
The participant gave the wrong answer 36.8% of the time. 25% didn’t conform at all. So after the study the 75% said they conformed to avoid rejection. NSI
Asch’s variations
Group size- 3 confederates was the maximum needed to reach the highest levels of conformity- any more made little difference.
Unanimity- if someone agreed with the participant, it reduced the conformity by a quarter from when everyone disagreed.
Task difficulty- when the lines were harder to tell, conformity increased. ISI plays a greater role when the task is harder.
Asch’s research- evaluation
Perrin and Spencer- 396 trials and only 1 student conformed. Asch’s was in 1950 america where it was a conformist time, society has changed a lot since then. Show’s it’s not consistent. Lacks temporal validity.
Artificial situation/task- may have shown demand characteristics, not generalisable or validity.
Zimbardo’s stanford prison experiment- procedure
Mock prison in the basement, volunteer sample, the participants were randomly assigned roles of guards/prisoners. To heighten the realism the prisoners were arrested at home, deloused, stripped and given a number. The prisoner’s names were never used. And guards had handcuffs, sunglasses and keys, they could say if a prisoner could go to the toilet or not.
Zimbardo’s stanford prison experiment- findings
The study ended after 6 days instead of 14 as the guards took up their roles and their behaviour became a threat to the prisoner’s psychological and physical health. They harassed the prisoners constantly. One went on hunger strike so they punished him by putting him in a tiny dark closet. Overall, they all conformed to their roles.
Zimbardo’s prison study evaluation
Highly controlled, meaning increased internal validity. (eg. selection of participants). Also the prisoners thought it was real rather than acting, also meaning increased internal validity.
Ethical issues- zimbardo took part and watched, one wanted to leave but he didn’t let him as he cared more about his study rather than his responsibilities towards his participants.
Obedience- Milgram’s research procedure
40 male participants through newspaper articles, they were offered $4.50 to take part. There was a rigged draw for their role so the participant always ended up with the teacher role. If the learner (confederate) made a mistake on the learning task the participant would have to shock them from 15 volts up to 450 volts (labelled danger- severe shock). If the participant was unsure about carrying on they were given 4 prods.
Milgram’s 4 prods
- Please continue or please go on
- The experiment requires that you continue
- It is absolutely essential that you continue
- You have no other choice, you must go on.