Social influence: Key terms Flashcards
Conformity
A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
Group size
Asch increased the size of the group by adding more confederates, thus increasing the size of the majority. Conformity increased with group size, but only up to a point, levelling off when the majority was greater than 3
Unanimity
The extent to which all the members of a group agree. In Asch’s studies, the majority was unanimous when all the confederates selected the same comparison line. This produced the greater degree of conformity in the naive participants
Task difficulty
Asch’s line-judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer. Conformity increased because naive participants 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 as correct. it leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent
identification
a moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. But we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majoirty believes.
Compliance
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go alng with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. the change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us.
Informational social infleunce
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. we accept it becase we want to be correct as well. this may lead to internalisation
Normative social influence
An explanation of confomrity 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 examplesinclude parent, child, student, passenger and so on. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role, for example caring, obedient, industrious
Obedience
A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct orde. the person issuing the order is usually a figure of authroity, who has the power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming.
Situational variables
