Social Influence Flashcards
Internalization
Genuinely accepts group norms in private and public
Identification
We conform because we identify with the group, even if we privately don’t agree with
Compliance
‘Going along with it’ Superficial change, but not changing private opinions.
Explanations for conformity: Informational Social Influence
Deutsch + Gerard 2 process-model
(The need to be right) We agree with opinions of the majority because we believe its correct. This can lead to internalization
Cognitive process
Explanations for conformity: Normative social influence
Deutsch + Gerard 2 process-model
(Need to be liked) We agree with opinions because we want to be accepted, social approval, leads to compliance
Evaluation Explanations for conformity: Support ISI
LUCAS Math's students High conformity in poor ability students People conform in situations where they feel they don't know the answer Supports what ISI predicts
Evaluation Explanations for conformity: Individual differences
People less concerned with being liked - less likely to conform
MCGHEE + TEEVAN
Desire to be liked underlines conformity so can’t e applied to everyone.
Evaluation Explanations for conformity: Support NSI
ASCH
Found people went along as other people did. P’s said they felt self conscious + afraid of disapproval.
When p’s wrote answer conformity fell to 12.5%
Shows people want approval
Asch’s Research: Procedure
Procedure
Match the line to the standard line
123 male undergraduates i groups of 6-8
American p’s
Asch’s Research: Findings
No conformity - 25%
Conformed at least once - 75%
P’s said they conformed to avoid rejection (support NSI)
Asch’s Variations
- Group size
Smaller groups less effect on conformity, 3+ confederates had little effect. - Unanimity
Presence of a non-conforming confederate had little effect - Task Difficulty
Harder task - conformity increases ISI plays greater role.
Evaluation Asch’s Research: ‘Child of it’s time’
Study was repeated in 1980 with students in UK
1/396 trials a student conformed
1950 - conformist time in US, less conformist nowadays
Not consistent
Evaluation Asch’s Research: Artificial task
Demand characteristics - trivial task
Do not generalize to everyday situations
Consequences of conformity may be more important IRL
Evaluation Asch’s Research: Lab Study
Increases the validity.
Zimbardo’s Research: Procedure
Mock prison in basement Advertised for students Randomly assigned roles Prisoners only had numbers Guards had uniforms
Zimbardo’s Research: Findings
Study ended 6 / 14 days
Day 2 prisoners rebelled from harsh treatment
Showed signs of depression /anxiety
Guard behaviour was so brutal and aggressive The conformed more to social roles.
All conformed to their perception of the roles.
Evaluation SPE: Control
Control over variable
Selection of participants, emotionally stable p’s were chosen but then randomly assigned
Meaning the behaviour shown was due to the environment and not emotional instability.
Increases internal validity
Evaluation SPE: Lack of realism
P’s were acting rather than conforming. Based on stereotypes
One of the guards claimed he had based his role on a brutal film character
Evaluation SPE: Quantitative data
90% of conversations were about prison life. Prisoner 416 expressed that the prison was real one.
High degree of internal validity.
Milgram’s Research: Procedure
40 male p's Newspaper advertising 20-50yrs P's had to shock the confederate every wrong answer + increase voltage to fatal level 4 standard prods were used
Milgram’s Research: Findings
0% stopped before 300V
65% continued to highest level 450%
Signs of extreme tension, 3 had seizures
Evaluation Milgram’s Research: Low Internal Validity
P’s could have guessed they weren’t real electric shocks
Similar were real shocks were given to a puppy and results were similar, supporting Milgrams study and shocks were thought to be genuine
Evaluation Milgram’s Research: Good External Validity
The central feature was the authority figure in the lab setting, it reflects wider authority situations.
The process of obedience can be generalized to other situations.
Evaluation Milgram’s Research: Ethical Issues
The allocation of roles were not random and p’s thought shocks were real. Deception and betrayal of trust to P’s. Mental stress, 3 p’s suffered seizures.
Milgrams Situational Variables: Location
Changed the location to a rundown building, the experim enter had less authority in this environment
Milgrams Situational Variables: Location
Changed the location to a rundown building, the experimenter had less authority in this environment
Milgrams Situational Variables: Uniform
An ordinary member of the public took over in everyday clothes, obedience dropped to the lowest.
Evaluation Milgrams Situational Variables: Lack Internal Validity
Lacks internal validity
Milgram admitted recognized the situation was contrived for ‘Uniform’ variable.
