Social Influence

Question 1

What is informational social influence?

Answer 1

Conforming to be right, reduces uncertainty, likely in ambiguous situations, converted to that way of thinking

Question 2

What is normative social influence?

Answer 2

Conforming to be liked, to be accepted and not rejected, temporary effect

Question 3

What are the 3 types of conformity?

Answer 3

Compliance, Identification, internalisation

Question 4

What is compliance?

Answer 4

Go along with a group to gain approval, no change in underlying attitude, only views expressed in public

Question 5

What is identification?

Answer 5

Accepts the attitudes and behaviors there adopting as true, but was originally to gain acceptance from a group

Question 6

What is internalisation?

Answer 6

Individuals go along with a group because of an acceptance of their views, publically and privately

Question 7

Describe Asch’s study on conformity?

Answer 7

123 males, confederates, groups of 7 -9, length of line, 33% conformity rate, however 1/4 didn’t conform at all

Question 8

What variables affect conformity?

Answer 8

Task difficulty, group size, unanimity

Question 9

How was task difficulty tested?

Answer 9

Asch’s study, but lines more difficulty to identify

Question 10

How was group size tested?

Answer 10

Asch’s study, 3 people increased conformity by 30%, 4 people optimal point

Question 11

How was unanimity tested?

Answer 11

Asch’s study, confederate gave the correct answer and broke from group, conformity dropped to 5.5%

Question 12

Describe Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment on conforming to social roles.

Answer 12

24 male pp, prisoner or guard, 2 weeks, Guards harassed and behaved brutally, prisoners became passive. Prisoners there for 24 hours

Question 13

Describes Milgram’s study on obedience.

Answer 13

Electric shock, Teacher and student, recall, shocks given, used prompts, 65% continued to 450V, sweating

Question 14

What factors affect obedience?

Answer 14

Proximity, Location, Uniform

Question 15

What is proximity?

Answer 15

A low proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions. 40% obedience when in same room

Question 16

What is location?

Answer 16

A prestigious venue gives the study more legitimacy and authority. 47% conformity when in run down building

Question 17

What is uniform?

Answer 17

Uniforms encourage obedience, widely recognised symbols of authority, they are entitled to obedience. Milgram casual clothes = 20%

Question 18

What evidence is there of uniform affecting obedience?

Answer 18

Jacket and tie, milkman, security guard, pick up rubbish, 2x more likely to obey security guard than jacket and tie

Question 19

What are the 3 explanations for obedience?

Answer 19

The Agentic State, The Authoritarian Personality, Legitimacy

Question 20

What is the agentic state?

Answer 20

Individuals allowing someone else to direct their behaviour

Question 21

What is the autonomous state?

Answer 21

Individuals who direct their own behavior and take responsibility for their actions.

Question 22

What is the agentic shift?

Answer 22

The shift from the autonomous state to agentic state

Question 23

What is an authoritarian personality?

Answer 23

A personality pattern characterised by adherence to conventional values. Belief in absolute obedience. Formed during childhood

Question 24

What is the F scale?

Answer 24

A questionnaire that shows a correlation between prejudice and an authoritarian personality. Have fixed stereotypes and a respect for power.

Question 25

What are the 2 explanations for resistance to social influence?

Answer 25

Social support, Locus of Control

Question 26

How does social support reduce conformity?

Answer 26

Breaks unanimity, an ally increases confidence in a persons decision

Question 27

What evidence is there for social support?

Answer 27

A variation of Asch's study, no support conformity 97%, support from someone with good vision 64%

Question 28

What is Locus of Control?

Answer 28

Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives.

Question 29

What are the 2 types of Locus of Control?

Answer 29

External and Internal

Question 30

What is an external Locus of Control?

Answer 30

Believes outcomes are out of their control, determined by fate not their decisions.

Question 31

What is an internal Locus of Control?

Answer 31

Believes outcomes are within their control, determined by their hard work and decisions.

Question 32

What Locus of Control shows resistance and why?

Answer 32

Internal, more likely to actively seek info, more achievement oriented, leaders, sees consequences as their own responsibility

Question 33

What does a minority need?

Answer 33

Consistency, commitment, flexibility

Question 34

What are the two types of consistency?

Answer 34

Synchronic consistency and Diachronic consistency

Question 35

What is synchronic consistency?

Answer 35

When people in the minority are all in agreement

Question 36

What is diachronic consistency?

Answer 36

When those in the minority have been saying the same thing for a long time

Question 37

What does consistency cause?

Answer 37

Causes the majority to think

Question 38

Why does commitment cause successful minority influence?

Answer 38

Suggests certainty and confidence, more likely to convert a majority, Augmentation Principle

Question 39

What is flexibility?

Answer 39

If the minority are seen as inflexible and uncompromising they will be unlikely to change the views of the majority, stops alienation

Question 40

What evidence is there for consistency?

Answer 40

Blue/green colour slides, First group minority of confederates were consistent with answer blue, other group not consistent, 8% vs 1%

Question 41

What are the 6 steps to social change?

Answer 41

Attention, Conflict, Consistency, Augmentation Principle, Snowball Effect, Social Cryptoamnesia

Question 42

What does attention cause?

Answer 42

Differing views creates conflict the majority are motivated to reduce, highlights the issue

Question 43

What does conflict cause?

Answer 43

The majority to think deeply about the issues challenged

Question 44

How does consistency create social change?

Answer 44

Tends to be influential when arguments expressed consistently

Question 45

What is the Augmentation Principle?

Answer 45

If minority appears willing to suffer for views they are seen as more committed and taken more seriously.

Question 46

What is the Snowball Effect?

Answer 46

Minority influence initially small effect, but then spreads widely as more people consider the issue. Tipping point reached where minority changes to majority.

Question 47

Define minority influence.

Answer 47

When a individual or a small group influence a large group to change their attitude or behaviour

Question 48

Define social change

Answer 48

The process which by society changes its attitudes/views/behaviours to make new social norms.

Question 49

How can a majority create social change?

Answer 49

Through NSI. If a person perceives something as a norm, they will change to fit that norm. Misperception.

Question 50

How can a minority create social change?

Answer 50

Through conversion, with the 6 steps.