1. Social influence Flashcards
(38 cards)
Define social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change other’s attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence
Define conformity
A change in a person’s behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people. Yielding to group pressure - majority influence
Define 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, event when the group is absent
Define 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
Define compliance
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us
Define informational social influence (ISI)
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be correct as well. The may lead to internalisation
Define normative social influence (NSI)
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
Define confederates
A person one works with the psychologist - a fake participant
Define 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
Define group size
Asch increased the group size by adding more confederates, thus unceasing the size of the majority. Conformity increased with group size until a certain point, levelling off where majority was greater than 3
Define task difficulty
Asch’s line judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer. Conformity increases because naive participants assume the majority is more likely to be right
Define social roles
The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. Everyday examples include parent, child, teacher etc. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what id appropriate behaviour in each role
Define 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
Define situational variables
Features of an environment that impact the degree at which individuals obey
Define 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 Milgrim’s studies
Define location
The place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influences obedience is the status or prestige/reputation associated with the location
Define uniform
People on 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 out obedience
Define 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. This frees us from the demands of our consciences and allows us to obey even a destructive authority
Define autonomous state
A mental state where we do feel personal responsibility for our behaviour
Define agentic shift
When a person changed from an autonomous state to an agentic state, they have undergone an agentic shift
Define binding factors
Aspects of a situation that allows a person to ignore or minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour, thus reducing the ‘moral strain’ they are feeling
Define 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 by the individual’s position or power within a social hierarchy
Define dispositional factors
Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual’s personality. These can contrast with situational explanations
Define authoritarian personality
A type or 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
