Social Influence (definitions) Flashcards
Conformity
Following the majority
Obedience
Following a direct order from a person/group of authority
Minority influence
A minority group persuading the majority
Independent behaviour
An individual going against the majority
Identification
Person changes views publicly and privately, but the change is temporary.
Compliance
Person conforms publicly but disagrees privately. There is not change in their views.
Internalization
Person changes views publicly and privately, and the change is permanent .
ISI
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.
NSI
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.
Agentic state
A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our actions because we feel we are acting for an authoritative figure
Autonomous state
A mental state where we feel free to act on our own principals, and take responsibility for our actions
Legitimate authority
When a person has justified authority due to their position of power within a social hierarchy
Destructive authority
When a person with legitimate authority uses their power to make people do cruel/dangerous things
Buffer
Something that reduces the impact of what you are doing
Binding factor
Something that prevents you from escaping the agentic state
Displacement
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
The F scale
A set of questions designed to test a person’s level of fascism
Authoritarian personality
A personality types which involves a conventional view of morality, and a disposition to obey and respect authority
Internal Locus of Control
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.
External Locus of Control
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.
Social support
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.
Consistency
Minority influence is most effective when the minority maintains the same view both over time and amongst all of their members.
Commitment
Minority influence is most effective when the minority demonstrate dedication to their views e.g. by making personal sacrifices
Flexibility
Minority influence is most effective when the minority shows willingness to compromise and adapt
Augmentation principle
When a minority group behaves radically to promote their idea and show commitment
Social cryptoamnesia
When people forget the source of an idea after it becomes the majority belief
Drawing attention
When a minority group draws attention to themselves and their beliefs through their actions
Snowball effect
When the minority belief gathers support at an increasing rate until it becomes the majority belief
Tipping point
The point at which the minority view becomes the majority view
Gradual commitment
Getting someone to obey small instructions, which then makes it harder for them to resist more significant instuctions
Social change
When a whole society adopts a new attitude, belief, or behaviour
Minority influence in real life
The suffragettes, the legalisation of gay marriage, the smoking ban, civil rights, punishment of children in school, recyling
Unanimity
The extent to which the members of a group agree
Dispositional explanation
An explanation of behaviour which takes into account the importance of individual personality
Locus of control
The sense we each have about what directs events in our lives
Social roles
The ‘parts’ people play as members of society, accompanied by associated behaviours
Situational variables
Factors, identified by Milgram, which influence obedience, including proximity, location, and uniform
Social influence
The process by which individuals/groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours, including obedience, conformity, and minority influence
Social-psychological factors affecting obedience
Agentic shift and legitimacy of authority
