Social influences Flashcards
What is social influence?
Social influence is the exercise of social power by a person or group to change the attitudes or behavior of others in a particular direction.
Define conformity.
Conformity is yielding to perceived group pressure by copying the behavior and beliefs of others.
What is obedience?
Obedience is the performance of an action in response to a direct order.
What was the key finding in Sherif’s (1935) study on norm development?
Participants’ judgments of the autokinetic effect (an optical illusion) regressed toward a consistent range, demonstrating norm formation in ambiguous situations.
How does Asch’s (1951) study differ from Sherif’s?
Asch’s study focused on conformity when the correct answer was clear, demonstrating normative influence, whereas Sherif’s study involved informational influence in ambiguous situations.
What are normative and informational influences?
Normative influence: Conforming to gain rewards or avoid punishment.
Informational influence: Conforming to gain accurate information in uncertain situations.
What is minority influence, and what conditions are necessary for it?
Minority influence occurs when a smaller group shifts the majority’s views. It requires consistency and confidence.
What were the surprising results of Milgram’s obedience study?
Despite intense stress, 65% of participants obeyed orders to administer the maximum 450-volt shock
What is the factor that Milgram identified as contributing to high obedience?
Cultural norm to obey authority.
Define social facilitation and social inhibition.
Social facilitation: Improved performance on simple tasks in the presence of others.
Social inhibition: Impaired performance on complex tasks due to audience presence.
What is the difference between prescriptive and proscriptive norms?
Prescriptive norms: Expected behaviors (e.g., saying “thank you”).
Proscriptive norms: Prohibited behaviors (e.g., not belching in public).
Describe the three leadership styles and their effects on group productivity.
Democratic: High productivity, cooperative atmosphere.
Autocratic: Productive only when leader is present, aggressive atmosphere.
Laissez-faire: Low productivity, minimal direction
What are the characteristics of transformational leadership?
Charisma: Inspires and motivates commitment to group goals.
Individualized consideration: Treats each member with respect and develops their skills.
Intellectual stimulation: Encourages novel problem-solving approaches.
What does contingency theory suggest about leadership effectiveness?
Leadership effectiveness depends on the leader’s style (task-oriented or socio-emotional) and situational control (low, moderate, or high).
What is divergent thinking?
Divergent thinking is the process of considering multiple perspectives and ideas.
