Social Influence - Key Terms Flashcards
Define conformity
A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as the rule of group pressure; this happens due to a need to be right and the need to be liked
Define the autokinetic effect
An optical illusion, in which a spot of light on a screen appears to move, when in actual fact it doesn’t
Define obedience
Following the orders of someone we believe to have authority
Define socialisation
The way we are raised to behave and the things we are taught to accept as normal
Define buffer
Something that creates distance between the teacher and learner (e.g. a wall or another person administering the shocks)
Define deindividuation
The state of losing our sense of individuality and becoming less aware of our own responsibility for our actions
Define anonymous
Being able to keep our identity hidden
Define mundane realism
An everyday situation, that is life-like and not artificial
Define social loafing
Putting less effort into doing something when you are with others doing the same thing
Define bystander intervention
Helping individuals who are unknown to you in an emergency
Define diffusion or responsibility
In a group of people there is less need for the individual to act because someone else who is present could also do something
Define empathy
Being able to put yourself in someone else’s position psychologically and understand how that person is feeling
Define altruism
Helping someone without thinking of yourself, sometimes at a great cost
Define bystander apathy
Doing nothing in an emergency when someone is in need of help
Define social influence
The effect other people have on our behaviour. This includes conformity, obedience and social loafing
