Social Influence Key Words Flashcards
Social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change others attitudes and behaviours
Conformity
A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real imagined pressure from a person or group of people.
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 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
Compliance
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
Informational social influence
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
Normative social influence
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
Confederates
A person that works with the psychologists - a fake participant
Unanimity
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
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 where the majority was greater than three
Task difficulty
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
Social roles
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.
Obedience
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
Social identity theory
A person’s sense of who they are based on their group membership
Situational variables
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
Proximity
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
Location
The place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige/reputation associated with the location
Uniform
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
Agentic state
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
Autonomous state
A mental state where we do feel personal responsibility for our behaviour
Agentic shift
When a person changes from autonomous state to an Agentic state they have undergone an Agentic shift
Binding factors
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
Legitimacy of authority
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.
Dispositional factors
Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual’s personality (their disposition). These can contrast
with situational explanations
