Social Influence Key Terms

Question 1

Define Social Influence

Answer 1

The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours

Question 2

Define legitimacy of authority

Answer 2

An explanation for obedience which suggests we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us due to the position of power that they hold within the social hierarchy

Question 3

Define an Authoritarian personality

Answer 3

A person who has extreme respect for authority and is more likely to be obedient to those who hold power over them. They may be submissive to superiors, dismiss inferiors, and highly prejudiced

Question 4

Define the agentic state

Answer 4

This is when individuals obey an order even if they are aware that it is wrong, because they feel that they are acting for an authority figure so feel no responsibility for their actions

Question 5

Define identification

Answer 5

when a person changes their public behaviour (the way they act) and their private beliefs, but only while they are in the presence of the group they are identifying with.

Question 6

Define social cryptomnesia.

Answer 6

This is part of the process of minority influence which takes place after the snowball effect. It describes how people have a memory that social change has occurred but don’t remember how it happened.

Question 7

Define compliance

Answer 7

Adjusting one’s behavior or attitudes to match the perceived social norms or expectations of a group

Question 8

Define internalisation

Answer 8

When an individual changes their behaviour to fit in with a group publicly while also agreeing with them privately