Social Influence (definitions)

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

Following the majority

Question 2

Obedience

Answer 2

Following a direct order from a person/group of authority

Question 3

Minority influence

Answer 3

A minority group persuading the majority

Question 4

Independent behaviour

Answer 4

An individual going against the majority

Question 5

Identification

Answer 5

Person changes views publicly and privately, but the change is temporary.

Question 6

Compliance

Answer 6

Person conforms publicly but disagrees privately. There is not change in their views.

Question 7

Internalization

Answer 7

Person changes views publicly and privately, and the change is permanent .

Question 8

ISI

Answer 8

Informational Social Influence - a person conforms because they want to be right. They rely on information from someone they believe to be knowledgeable on the subject. This is cognitive.

Question 9

NSI

Answer 9

Normative Social Influence - a person conforms because they want to be liked. They don’t want to go against the majority and risk being rejected or appearing foolish. This is emotional.

Question 10

Agentic state

Answer 10

A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our actions because we feel we are acting for an authoritative figure

Question 11

Autonomous state

Answer 11

A mental state where we feel free to act on our own principals, and take responsibility for our actions

Question 12

Legitimate authority

Answer 12

When a person has justified authority due to their position of power within a social hierarchy

Question 13

Destructive authority

Answer 13

When a person with legitimate authority uses their power to make people do cruel/dangerous things

Question 14

Buffer

Answer 14

Something that reduces the impact of what you are doing

Question 15

Binding factor

Answer 15

Something that prevents you from escaping the agentic state

Question 16

Displacement

Answer 16

The transfer of negative emotions from one person or thing to an unrelated person or thing e.g. shouting at your boyfriend after your boss shouts at you

Question 17

The F scale

Answer 17

A set of questions designed to test a person’s level of fascism

Question 18

Authoritarian personality

Answer 18

A personality types which involves a conventional view of morality, and a disposition to obey and respect authority

Question 19

Internal Locus of Control

Answer 19

A person who believes that the things that happen to them are a result of their own actions, and have little to do with luck/fate. This person is more likely to resist conformity.

Question 20

External Locus of Control

Answer 20

A person who believes that the things that happen to them are out of their control and are a result of luck/fate. This person is more likely to conform.

Question 21

Social support

Answer 21

A factor contributing to resistance of social influence; when a non-conforming peer supports your view this reduces blind obedience, and stops you from slipping into the agentic state.

Question 22

Consistency

Answer 22

Minority influence is most effective when the minority maintains the same view both over time and amongst all of their members.

Question 23

Commitment

Answer 23

Minority influence is most effective when the minority demonstrate dedication to their views e.g. by making personal sacrifices

Question 24

Flexibility

Answer 24

Minority influence is most effective when the minority shows willingness to compromise and adapt

Question 25

Augmentation principle

Answer 25

When a minority group behaves radically to promote their idea and show commitment

Question 26

Social cryptoamnesia

Answer 26

When people forget the source of an idea after it becomes the majority belief

Question 27

Drawing attention

Answer 27

When a minority group draws attention to themselves and their beliefs through their actions

Question 28

Snowball effect

Answer 28

When the minority belief gathers support at an increasing rate until it becomes the majority belief

Question 29

Tipping point

Answer 29

The point at which the minority view becomes the majority view

Question 30

Gradual commitment

Answer 30

Getting someone to obey small instructions, which then makes it harder for them to resist more significant instuctions

Question 31

Social change

Answer 31

When a whole society adopts a new attitude, belief, or behaviour

Question 32

Minority influence in real life

Answer 32

The suffragettes, the legalisation of gay marriage, the smoking ban, civil rights, punishment of children in school, recyling

Question 33

Unanimity

Answer 33

The extent to which the members of a group agree

Question 34

Dispositional explanation

Answer 34

An explanation of behaviour which takes into account the importance of individual personality

Question 35

Locus of control

Answer 35

The sense we each have about what directs events in our lives

Question 36

Social roles

Answer 36

The ‘parts’ people play as members of society, accompanied by associated behaviours

Question 37

Situational variables

Answer 37

Factors, identified by Milgram, which influence obedience, including proximity, location, and uniform

Question 38

Social influence

Answer 38

The process by which individuals/groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours, including obedience, conformity, and minority influence

Question 39

Social-psychological factors affecting obedience

Answer 39

Agentic shift and legitimacy of authority