Social Psychology - key terms Flashcards
Conformity
Form of social influence that results from exposure to majority position and leads to compliance with that position. Tendency for people to adopt behaviour, attitudes and values of other members of a reference group
Compliance
Occurs when an individual accepts influence because they hope to achieve a favourable reaction from those around them. An attitude or behaviour adopted because rewards or approval associated with its adoption
Internalisation
Occurs when an individual accepts influence because content of the attitude or behaviour proposed is consistent with their own value system
Normative social influence
Result of wanting to be liked and part of a group (by following social norms)
Informational social influence
Result of wanting to be right - looking to others for the right answer
Obedience to authority
Type of social influence whereby somebody acts in response to a direct order from a figure with perceived authority. The implication that person receiving order is made to respond in a way that they would not have done without the order
Agentic shift
In situation requiring obedience, may shift from ‘autonomous’ state (responsibility for own actions) to an ‘agentic’ level (acts as an ‘agent’ for another rather than own initiative) Attribute responsibility for actions to authority figure
Locus of control
Aspect of our behaviour: people differ in beliefs about whether outcomes of their actions are contingent on what they do (internal control) or on events outside personal control (external control)
Minority influence
Form of social influence where people reject established norm of majority of group members and move to the position of minority
Social change
When a whole society adopts new belief or way of behaving which then becomes widely accepted as ‘norm’
