Social Influence Key Words

Question 1

Social influence

Answer 1

The process by which individuals and groups change others attitudes and behaviours

Question 2

Conformity

Answer 2

A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real imagined pressure from a person or group of people.

Question 3

Internalisation

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Identification

Answer 4

A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and we want to be a part of it but we do not necessarily agree with everything the majority believes

Question 5

Compliance

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Informational social influence

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Normative social influence

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Confederates

Answer 8

A person that works with the psychologists - a fake participant

Question 9

Unanimity

Answer 9

The extent to which all members of the group agree
In asch’s studies the majority was unanimous when all the confederates selected the same comparison line, this produced the greatest degree of conformity in the naive participants

Question 10

Group size

Answer 10

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 where the majority was greater than three

Question 11

Task difficulty

Answer 11

Aschs line judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer
Conformity increase because naive participants assume that the majority is more likely to be right

Question 12

Social roles

Answer 12

The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups.
Everyday examples include parent, child, teacher ect. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role for example obedient, caring
ect.

Question 13

Obedience

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Social identity theory

Answer 14

A person’s sense of who they are based on their group membership

Question 15

Situational variables

Answer 15

In his research, Milgram identified several factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by the participants. They are all related to the external circumstances rather than to the personalities of the people involved

Question 16

Proximity

Answer 16

The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person they are giving an order to. Also refers to the physical closeness of the teacher to the learner in Milgram’s studies

Question 17

Location

Answer 17

The place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige/reputation associated with the location

Question 18

Uniform

Answer 18

People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit that is symbolic of their authority. For example, police officers and judges. This indicates to the rest of us who is entitled to expect our obedience

Question 19

Agentic state

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Autonomous state

Answer 20

A mental state where we do feel personal responsibility for our behaviour

Question 21

Agentic shift

Answer 21

When a person changes from autonomous state to an Agentic state they have undergone an Agentic shift

Question 22

Binding factors

Answer 22

Aspects of a situation that allows a person to gone or minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour thus reducing the moral strain they are feeling
eg denial

Question 23

Legitimacy of authority

Answer 23

An explanation of obedience which suggest 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 social hierarchy.

Question 24

Dispositional factors

Answer 24

Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual’s personality (their disposition). These can contrast
with situational explanations

Question 25

Authoritarian personality

Answer 25

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 of higher status and dismissive of inferiors

Question 26

F-scale

Answer 26

The F-scale is a personality test, designed by Adorno to measure the authoritarian personality. The “F” stands for “fascist” and measures responses on several different components of
authoritarianism

Question 27

Resistance to social influence

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Social support

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Locus of control

Answer 29

Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives.
o Internals: Believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them
o Externals: Believe it is a matter of luck or other external forces

Question 30

Minority influence

Answer 30

A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. This leads to internalisation or conversion in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours

Question 31

Consistency

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Synchronic consistency

Answer 32

Consistency between its members - all members agree and back eachother up

Question 33

Diachronic consistency

Answer 33

Consistency overtime - the majority sticks to it’s fine and doesn’t modify its views

Question 34

Commitment

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Augmentation principle

Answer 35

Commitment is shown when a group member performs an action when there are known constraints (suffer for cause)

Question 36

Flexibility

Answer 36

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 show flexibility by accepting the possibility of compromise.

Question 37

Snowball effect

Answer 37

A psychological term that explains how small actions can cause bigger and bigger actions, ultimately resulting in a big impact - can explain how the minority can influence the majority
• If commitment, consistency and flexibility are used by the minority group, more and more people will have their minds changed. In this way, the minority view snowballs into the majority view

Question 38

Social change

Answer 38

When whole societies rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things. For example accepting that the earth orbits the sun

Question 39

Social cryptomnesia

Answer 39

People have a memory that change has occurred but don’t remember how it happened