Social influence key terms

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

‘A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people’ (Aronson 2011)

Question 2

Group size

Answer 2

Asch increased the size of the group by adding more confederates, thus increasing the size of the majority. Conformity increased with the group size, but only up to a point, levelling off when the majority was greater than three.

Question 3

Unanimity

Answer 3

The extent to which all the members of a group agree. In Asch studies, the majority is unanimous when all confederates selected the same comparison line. This produced the greatest degree of conformity in the naive participant.

Question 4

Task difficulty

Answer 4

Asch’s line judging task is more difficult when the task becomes harder to work out the correct answer. Conformity increased because naive participant assume that the majority is more likely to be right.

Question 5

Internalisation

Answer 5

A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it is correct.it leads to far reaching and permanent change in behavior, even when the group is absent.

Question 6

Identification

Answer 6

A moderate type of conformity where we act the same way as the group, because we value it and want to be apart of it. But we don’t necessarily believe everything the group/ majority believes.

Question 7

Compliance

Answer 7

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behavior only last as long as the majority is monitoring us.

Question 8

Informational social influence

Answer 8

An explanation for conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it to be correct. We accept this because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalization.

Question 9

Normative social influence

Answer 9

An explanation for conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance.

Question 10

Social roles

Answer 10

The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. Everyday examples include parent, child ,student. These are accompanied by expectations of others about what is appropriate behavior in each role eg caring or obedience.

Question 11

Obedience

Answer 11

A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the order is often in a position of authority, who has the power to punish when obedient behavior is not forthcoming.

Question 12

Situational variables

Answer 12

Features of the immediate physical and social environment which may influence a persons behavior (proximity, location and uniform). The alternative is dispositional variables where behavior is explained in terms or personality.

Question 13

Proximity

Answer 13

The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving the order to. Also refers to the physical closeness of the Teacher to the Learner (Milgram).

Question 14

Location

Answer 14

The place where the order is issued. The relevant factor associated with obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location.

Question 15

Uniform

Answer 15

People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit symbolic of their authority eg police officers and judges. This indicates that they are entitled to expect our obedience.

Question 16

Agentic state

Answer 16

A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our own behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure i.e. as their agent. This frees us from the demand of our consciences and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure.

Question 17

Legitimacy of authority

Answer 17

An explanation for obedience which suggests that we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us. This authority is justified (legitimate) by the individual’s position of power within a hierarchal society.

Question 18

Dispositional explanation

Answer 18

Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of individuals personality (their disposition). Such explanations are often contrasted with situational explanations.

Question 19

Authoritarian personaity

Answer 19

A type of personality that Adorno argued was especially susceptible to obeying people in authority. Such individuals are also thought to be submissive to those in higher status and dismissive of inferiors.

Question 20

Resistance to social influence

Answer 20

Refers to the ability of people o withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority and obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.

Question 21

Social support

Answer 21

The presence of people who resist the pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.

Question 22

Locus of control

Answer 22

Refers to the sense we have about what directs events in our lives. Internals believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them (internal LOC). Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (external LOC).

Question 23

Minority influence

Answer 23

A form of social influence in which a minority of people (sometimes just one person) persuades others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. Leads to internalisation or conversion, in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours.

Question 24

Consistency

Answer 24

Minority influence is most effective is the minority keeps the same beliefs, both over time and between all the individuals that form minority. Consistency is effective because it draws attention to the minority view.

Question 25

Commitment

Answer 25

Minority influence is more powerful if the minority demonstrates dedication to their position, for example, by making personal sacrifices. This is effective because it shows the minority is not acting out of self-interest.

Question 26

Flexibility

Answer 26

Relentless consistency could be counter-productive if it is seen by the majority as unbending and unreasonable. Therefore minority influence is more effective if the minority shows flexibility by accepting a possible compromise.

Question 27

Social influence

Answer 27

The process by which individuals and groups change each others attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence.

Question 28

Social change

Answer 28

This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things. Examples include accepting that the earth orbits the sun, women’s suffrage, gay rights and environmental issues.