Social influence A01 Flashcards
Define conformity.
Conformity is the tendency to change one’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours to match those of others, often due to pressure from a group.
What are the two main types of conformity?
• Informational Social Influence (ISI): Conforming because we believe others are correct and want to be right.
• Normative Social Influence (NSI): Conforming to be liked or accepted by others, often to avoid rejection or embarrassment.
What was the aim of Asch’s 1951 study on conformity?
Asch aimed to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could influence a person to conform, even when the answer was obviously incorrect.
What was the key finding of Asch’s study on conformity?
Asch found that 37% of participants conformed to the incorrect answer on at least one trial, demonstrating the power of majority influence in conformity.
What factors can affect the level of conformity in a group?
• Group size: Conformity increases as group size grows.
• Unanimity: If the majority is unanimous, conformity is higher.
• Task difficulty: The harder the task, the more likely people are to conform, due to increased reliance on others for guidance.
• Individual differences: People with low self-esteem or those high in need for social approval are more likely to conform.
What is obedience?
Obedience is a form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order or command from an authority figure.
What was the aim of Milgram’s 1963 study on obedience?
Milgram aimed to investigate the extent to which ordinary people would obey an authority figure, even if it involved inflicting harm on another person.
What were the key findings of Milgram’s study on obedience?
Milgram found that 65% of participants administered the maximum 450-volt shock to the learner, even though they believed it was causing harm.
What factors can affect obedience?
• Proximity: Obedience is higher when the authority figure is physically close.
• Legitimacy of authority: People are more likely to obey if the authority figure is seen as legitimate or credible.
• Peer pressure: When others disobey, individuals are more likely to disobey as well.
• Personal responsibility: People are less likely to obey when they are personally responsible for their actions.
What is the “Agentic State”?
The agentic state is a mental state where an individual feels no personal responsibility for their behaviour as they see themselves as an “agent” executing the will of an authority figure.
What is the opposite of the Agentic State?
In an autonomous state, people see themselves as personally responsible for their actions.
What is the “Dispositional Explanation” of obedience?
The dispositional explanation suggests that some people are more likely to obey due to their personality characteristics, such as having an authoritarian personality.
What is the role of social support in reducing conformity?
Social support refers to the presence of others who resist the majority influence, which decreases conformity.
What is minority influence?
Minority influence occurs when a smaller group or individual can influence the opinions or behaviours of a larger group.
What are the key processes involved in minority influence?
• Consistency: The minority must express the same view over time.
• Commitment: The minority must demonstrate dedication to their viewpoint.
• Flexibility: The minority should be willing to adapt their position in response to reasonable arguments.
• Social cryptomnesia: The majority may forget where the new ideas originated from.
What was the aim of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment?
Zimbardo aimed to investigate how individuals would conform to social roles in a simulated prison environment.
What were the results of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment?
Participants quickly conformed to their assigned roles, with ‘guards’ becoming abusive and ‘prisoners’ becoming submissive.
What is social change, and how does it relate to social influence?
Social change refers to significant changes in society’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours, often driven by social influence.
