Social Influence Key Words

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

A change in a person’s behaviour or opinion due to real or imagined pressure from a group or person.

Question 2

Internalisation

Answer 2

Deep type of conformity we take on majority view because we accept it as correct. Leads to permanent change in behaviour even when group is absent.

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

Moderate type of conformity
Act in the same way as group because we value it and want to be part of it.
We don’t necessarily agree with everything majority believes

Question 4

Compliance

Answer 4

Superficial, temporary type of conformity
Outwardly go along with majority view, privately disagree.
Change only lasts as long as group is monitoring us.

Question 5

Informational social influence (ISI)

Answer 5

Conformity
Agree with opinion of majority because believe it is correct, we want to be correct
May lead to internalisation

Question 6

Normative social influence (NSI)

Answer 6

Conformity
Agree with opinion of majority because want to be accepted, gain social approval, be liked.
May lead to compliance

Question 7

Group size

Answer 7

Adding more confederates thus increasing size of majority

Conformity increased up to a point (3 majority)

Question 8

Unanimity

Answer 8

Extent to which all members of group agree

Unanimous - all confederates said same line - greatest conformity

Question 9

Task difficulty

Answer 9

Harder to work out correct answer - conformity increases

Pps assume majority more likely to be right

Question 10

Social roles

Answer 10

Parts people play as members of social groups e.g parent, child, teacher, passenger.
Accompanied by expectations of what is appropriate behaviour in each role e.g caring, obedient

Question 11

Obedience

Answer 11

Social influence

Individual follows a direct order usually from an authority figure who has the power to punish if not obedient

Question 12

Situational variables

Answer 12

Milgram
Factors that influence level of obedience from pps.
Related to external circumstances rather than personality
Proximity, location, uniform

Question 13

Proximity

Answer 13

Physical closeness or distance of authority figure to person they are giving the order to.

Question 14

Location

Answer 14

Place where order is issued

Status or prestige associated with location

Question 15

Uniform

Answer 15

Authority usually have uniform that is symbolic

Indicates who is entitled to expect obedience

Question 16

Agentic state

Answer 16

Mental state
Feel no personal responsibility for behaviour, believe ourselves to be acting for authority, as agent
Frees us from demands of consciences, allows to obey even destructive authority

Question 17

Legitimacy of authority

Answer 17

More likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us
Authority is justified by individual’s position of power within social hierarchy.

Question 18

Dispositional explanation

Answer 18

Highlights importance of individuals personality

Contrast situational explanations

Question 19

Authoritarian personality

Answer 19

Adorno
Especially susceptible to obeying people in authority
Submissive to those of higher status
Dismissive of inferiors

Question 20

Resistance to social influence

Answer 20

Ability to withstand social pressures to conform to majority or obey to authority
Influenced by situational and dispositional factors

Question 21

Social support

Answer 21

Presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey, help others to do the same.
Act as models, show resistance is possible

Question 22

Locus of control (LOC)

Answer 22

sense we have about what directs events in our lives

Question 23

Internal locus of control

Answer 23

Believe they are responsible for what happens to them.

Question 24

External locus of control

Answer 24

Believe it is mainly a matter of luck or outside forces that determines what happens to them.

Question 25

Minority influence

Answer 25

Social influence
Minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes, behaviours
Leads to internalisation, conversion

Question 26

Consistency

Answer 26

Minority keeps same beliefs over time and between all individuals of minority group.
Draws attention to view - minority influence most effective

Question 27

Commitment

Answer 27

Minority demonstrates dedication, makes personal sacrifices, not acting out of self-interest
Makes minority influence more powerful

Question 28

Flexibility

Answer 28

Accepting possibility of compromise - minority influence more effective
Relentless consistency could be counter-productive if seen as unbending and unreasonable

Question 29

Social influence

Answer 29

Individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes, behaviours.
Conformity, obedience, minority influence

Question 30

Social change

Answer 30

Whole societies adopt new attitudes, beliefs, ways of doing things.
e.g accepting Earth orbits Sun, gay rights, environmental issues.