Social Influence key terms Flashcards
Conformity
A change in a person’s benaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people.
Internalisation
Where people change their beliefs permanently
Identification
Where people change their beliefs (sometimes temporarily) to fit in with a group
Compliance
Superficial type of conformity where people conform publicly but privately disagree.
Informational social influence (ISI)
Where people conform because information is given to them. This leads to internalisation
Normative social influence (NSI)
Where people conform to fit in or not be excluded from the group.
Group size
Asch increased the group size by adding more confederates, conformity increased with group size up until a majority of 3 where it levelled.
Unanimity
Complete agreement from a group of people about an issue or question.
Task difficulty
Asch’s line judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer.
Social roles
The parts individuals play as part of a social group
Obedience
Complying with the demands of an authority figure
Situational variables
Features of an environment that affect the degree to which individuals yield to group pressures.
Proximity
The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure, and in Milgram’s research the teacher and learner distance
Location
The place where the order is given, the prestige and status are the relevant factors that influence obedience.
Uniform
People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit, this indicates who is entitled to our obedience.
