Social influence key terms Flashcards
Conformity
‘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)
Group size
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.
Unanimity
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.
Task difficulty
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.
Internalisation
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.
Identification
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.
Compliance
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.
Informational social influence
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.
Normative social influence
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.
Social roles
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.
Obedience
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.
Situational variables
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.
Proximity
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).
Location
The place where the order is issued. The relevant factor associated with obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location.
Uniform
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.
Agentic state
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.
Legitimacy of authority
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.
Dispositional explanation
Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of individuals personality (their disposition). Such explanations are often contrasted with situational explanations.
Authoritarian personaity
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.
Resistance to social influence
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.
Social support
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.
Locus of control
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).
Minority influence
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.
Consistency
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.
Commitment
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.
Flexibility
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.
Social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change each others attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence.
Social change
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.
