Social Influence Flashcards
(261 cards)
1
Q
What is social influence?
A
The process through which the attitudes, beliefs or behaviours of an individual are changed by the presence or actions of others.
2
Q
How many marks is social influence worth on Paper 1?
A
24 marks
3
Q
What percentage of the total ‘A’ Level does social influence represent?
A
8.325%
4
Q
What is conformity?
A
Giving in to group pressure by adopting the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of people in a particular group.
5
Q
Who suggested the three types of conformity?
A
Robert Kelman
6
Q
What are the three types of conformity?
A
- Compliance
- Identification
- Internalisation
7
Q
What is compliance in terms of conformity?
A
Going along with the group to gain approval or avoid disapproval, without a change in underlying attitude.
8
Q
What is identification in terms of conformity?
A
Accepting social influence to be associated with a group, adopting their attitudes and behaviours.
9
Q
What is internalisation in terms of conformity?
A
Genuinely accepting the views of the group, resulting in a permanent change in opinion and behaviour.
10
Q
Does compliance lead to a permanent change in behaviour?
A
No
11
Q
Does identification lead to a permanent change in behaviour?
A
No
12
Q
Does internalisation lead to a permanent change in behaviour?
A
Yes
13
Q
Fill in the blank: The _______ level of conformity is internalisation.
A
deepest
14
Q
Fill in the blank: Compliance is the _______ level of conformity.
A
lowest
15
Q
What motivates compliance?
A
The desire to fit in with the group.
16
Q
What motivates internalisation?
A
The desire to find the most appropriate way of responding.
17
Q
In the case of Maria, what type of conformity is she demonstrating by becoming vegan to fit in?
A
Identification
18
Q
In the case of Maria, what type of conformity is she demonstrating by eating vegan meals with the group but returning to her non-vegan diet at home?
A
Compliance
19
Q
In the case of Maria, what type of conformity is she demonstrating when she genuinely believes in veganism?
A
Internalisation
20
Q
What is a potential challenge in distinguishing between compliance and internalisation?
A
It can be difficult to know if a person genuinely accepts the group’s views or is just agreeing publicly.
21
Q
What can lead to a change in behaviour from compliance to internalisation?
A
New information or forgetting previous information.
22
Q
What is the main purpose of identifying the different types of conformity?
A
To apply knowledge in unfamiliar scenarios and answer exam questions.
23
Q
True or False: Internalisation results in a change in opinion that persists even in the absence of the group.
A
True
24
Q
Define Conformity
A
A change in behavior or belief in response to real or imagined group pressure.
25
Define Identification
A form of conformity where an individual adopts the beliefs or behaviors of a group while being a member of that group.
26
Define Internalisation
A type of conformity where an individual adopts the beliefs or behaviors of a group and accepts them as their own.
27
Define Compliance
A form of conformity where an individual publicly changes their behavior or opinions to fit in with a group, but privately maintains their original beliefs.
28
Is there a change in public behavior? (Yes/No)
Yes
29
Is there a change in private behavior? (Yes/No)
Yes
30
Is the change permanent? (Yes/No)
Yes
31
What type of conformity is Jed showing?
Internalisation
32
What type of conformity is Zack showing?
Compliance
33
What type of conformity is Tom showing?
Internalisation
34
Identify two explanations of conformity.
* Informational social influence (ISI)
* Normative social influence (NSI)
35
What is Informational Social Influence (ISI)?
Motivated by the need to be right, leading to internalisation.
36
What is Normative Social Influence (NSI)?
Motivated by the desire to be accepted, leading to compliance.
37
What motivates Informational Social Influence?
The need to be right
38
What motivates Normative Social Influence?
The need to be liked
39
Fill in the blank: ISI leads to _______.
internalisation
40
Fill in the blank: NSI leads to _______.
compliance
41
What is the difference between ISI and NSI?
* ISI: Need to be right
* NSI: Need to be accepted
42
What behavior is Olivia exhibiting?
Normative Social Influence
43
What behavior is Kyrome exhibiting?
Informational Social Influence
44
What behavior is Josie exhibiting?
Normative Social Influence
45
What behavior is Hana exhibiting?
Informational Social Influence
46
What is a confederate in a conformity experiment?
Someone working with the researcher, not a real participant.
47
What is a test subject in a conformity experiment?
A real participant in the study.
48
What is one limitation of the Asch and Sherif studies?
Low ecological validity
49
Why is low ecological validity a limitation?
Results cannot be generalized to everyday instances of conformity.
50
What is the link between ecological validity and the validity of theories?
Low ecological validity lowers the external validity of supporting studies and therefore the validity of the theories.
51
What was the aim of Asch's famous line experiment?
To see if participants would yield to majority social influence and give incorrect answers on a task, even when the correct answers were always obvious.
52
How many male American students participated in Asch's experiment?
123 male American students.
53
What sampling technique was used to recruit participants for Asch's experiment?
Volunteer sampling technique.
54
In Asch's experiment, how many lines were shown to participants?
Two cards were shown: one with a standard line and one with three vertical lines of different lengths.
55
What was the task given to participants in Asch's experiment?
To call out which of the three lines (a, b, or c) was the same length as the standard line.
56
What percentage of the critical trials did the naïve participant give a wrong answer?
36.8% of the critical trials.
57
What percentage of participants did not conform on any trials in Asch's study?
25% of the participants.
58
What conclusion did Asch draw from his experiment?
Participants exhibited a 'distortion of action' – they knew the right answer but conformed to avoid ridicule.
59
What type of social influence did most participants report as their reason for conforming?
Normative social influence.
60
What ethical issue is raised by the deception used in Asch's study?
Participants were misled about the true nature of the experiment.
61
What is one limitation related to the cultural aspect of Asch's study?
The experiment was conducted in America, raising questions about cultural bias and generalizability to other cultures.
62
Fill in the blank: Asch's experiment is considered to have low _______ validity due to its artificial nature.
ecological
63
What was a significant strength of Asch's experimental design?
Highly controlled environment with controlled independent variables.
64
True or False: Asch's study included participants from diverse backgrounds.
False
65
What historical context might affect the relevance of Asch's findings today?
The study was conducted in 1951, post-war, which may influence conformity levels.
66
List two strengths of Asch's study.
* Good sample size (123 participants)
* High control in a lab setting.
67
List two limitations of Asch's study.
* Low population validity
* Low ecological validity.
68
What did most participants express as their motivation for conforming during interviews?
To avoid ridicule.
69
What was the term used to describe participants who privately knew the right answer but publicly conformed?
Compliance.
70
What did Asch's study primarily examine?
Conformity.
71
What is the effect of group size on conformity?
Asch found that conformity increases with group size, peaking at around 3 to 6 confederates.
## Footnote
1 confederate + 1 real participant = 4% conformity, 3 confederates + 1 real participant = 31.8% conformity, 6 confederates + 1 real participant = 36.8% conformity.
72
Define 'unanimity' in the context of conformity.
Unanimity refers to the extent to which all members of a group agree.
## Footnote
In Asch's study, unanimous responses from confederates led to higher conformity rates.
73
How does a lack of unanimity affect conformity levels?
When there is a lack of unanimity, conformity levels decrease significantly.
## Footnote
For example, when one confederate gave the correct answer, conformity dropped from 36.8% to 5.5%.
74
What was the aim of Asch's 1951 study?
To see if participants would yield to majority social influence and give incorrect answers on a task, even when correct answers were obvious.
75
Describe the method used in Asch's study.
123 male American students participated in a vision test where they identified which of three lines matched a standard line, with confederates giving wrong answers on critical trials.
76
What were the results of Asch's study regarding conformity?
The naïve participant conformed to the wrong answer on 36.8% of critical trials; 75% conformed at least once.
77
What conclusion did Asch draw from his study?
Participants exhibited a 'distortion of action' to avoid ridicule, conforming despite knowing the correct answer.
78
What is the relationship between task difficulty and conformity?
As task difficulty increases, conformity levels also increase due to greater ambiguity.
## Footnote
When the task was made more difficult, conformity increased as participants looked to others for guidance.
79
Fill in the blank: The effect of task difficulty on conformity suggests that _______ plays a role when the task becomes harder.
informational social influence.
80
What is the effect of having one confederate give a different answer from the majority?
It significantly reduces conformity levels, demonstrating the importance of group consensus.
81
True or False: The more familiar we are with a task, the more likely we are to conform.
False.
82
What happens to conformity rates when the majority is unanimous?
Conformity rates are higher when the majority is unanimous.
83
List three variables that affect conformity according to Asch's study.
* Group size
* Unanimity
* Task difficulty.
84
How did Asch recruit participants for his study?
Using a volunteer sampling technique.
85
What was the confederate's role in Asch's study?
To provide incorrect answers and influence the naive participant's responses.
86
87
Define 'compliance'.
Compliance is where individuals change their own opinions/behaviour to fit in with the group. However, they privately do not change their personal opinions/behaviour.
## Footnote
Compliance does not result in a permanent change in behaviour.
88
What are two features of compliance?
* Individuals change opinions/behaviour to fit in with the group
* No permanent change in personal opinions/behaviour
89
What is qualitative data?
Non-numerical data
90
What are the three variables affecting conformity?
* Group size
* Unanimity
* Task difficulty
91
What is meant by deindividuation?
A state in which individuals have lower self-awareness and a weaker sense of personal responsibility for their actions, often due to anonymity.
92
What is a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable that hasn’t been controlled.
93
Give one weakness of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Low ecological validity
94
Define 'informational social influence'.
Motivated by the need to be right (to look competent) and occurs when in a new or ambiguous situation we look to see what others are doing and copy it.
95
What are two features of informational social influence?
* Motivated by the need to be right
* Look to others in uncertain situations
96
What is informed consent?
When the investigator informs participants about all aspects of the study, allowing them to make an informed decision without feeling coerced.
97
Who carried out research into internalisation and informational social influence?
Sherif
98
Define 'normative social influence'.
Motivated by the desire to be accepted and involves conforming to gain acceptance from others.
99
What are two features of normative social influence?
* Desire to be accepted
* Conformity to gain acceptance or avoid rejection
100
What is obedience?
Carrying out the instructions of an authority figure.
101
What was the aim of Milgram's research?
To test obedience to authority.
102
What was the method used in Milgram's experiment?
40 male volunteers were allocated the role of 'teacher' and administered electric shocks to a 'learner' for incorrect answers.
103
What voltage did the shocks go up to in Milgram's experiment?
450 volts
104
What percentage of participants administered the full 450 volts in Milgram's study?
65%
105
What were some signs of extreme tension observed in participants during Milgram's experiment?
* Sweating
* Trembling
* Digging nails into hands
106
What conclusion can be drawn from Milgram's research?
Under certain circumstances, participants will obey an authority figure, even when uncomfortable.
107
List the ethical issues in Milgram's study.
* Informed consent
* Protection of participants
* Deception
* Right to withdraw
108
What is an example of an authority figure?
* Teachers
* Parents
* Supervisors/managers
109
True or False: Milgram's study was conducted in a laboratory setting.
True
110
Fill in the blank: Cramming is _______.
[bad]
111
Fill in the blank: Organised revision over periods of time is _______.
[good]
112
What was the percentage of participants who obeyed instructions to administer the full 450 volts in Milgram's original study?
65%
113
What type of experiment did Charles Sheridan and Richard King conduct to support Milgram's findings?
They used a puppy as the actual victim in their obedience experiment.
114
What was the main difference between Sheridan and King's experiment and Milgram's original study?
Sheridan and King used a real puppy that was actually shocked.
115
What reactions did volunteers exhibit during Sheridan and King's experiment?
* Hyperventilated
* Cried
* Tried to gesture to the puppy
116
In Sheridan and King's study, how many women obeyed the researcher to the end?
All 13 women
117
Fill in the blank: Milgram's original study provided a 'baseline' measure of _______.
[obedience]
118
What were the three situational factors identified that affect obedience?
* Uniform
* Location
* Proximity
119
True or False: People obey more when the authority figure is in ordinary clothes.
False
120
What effect does the location have on obedience according to Milgram's studies?
Obedience is higher in locations with integrity, like Yale University.
121
What happens to obedience levels when the participant is closer to the learner?
Obedience decreases due to feeling more responsible for the learner's distress.
122
In Milgram's experiment, what was the obedience percentage when the participant was in a different room from the authority figure?
21%
123
What conclusion can be drawn about uniform in relation to obedience?
Uniform increases obedience as it signifies legitimate authority.
124
What was the obedience percentage when the authority figure was in ordinary clothes compared to a lab coat?
Dropped from 65% to 20%
125
Fill in the blank: Proximity to the authority figure affects obedience; less proximity results in _______ obedience.
[lower]
126
What does a run-down office location do to obedience levels compared to Yale University?
Obedience decreases from 65% to 47.5%
127
What behavioral change occurs when a participant is forced to administer shocks directly?
Obedience decreases to 30%.
128
Outline the potential weaknesses of Milgram's research.
* Low population validity
* Low internal validity
* Ignores dispositional factors
129
What did Milgram's research demonstrate about the impact of proximity to the learner on obedience?
Obedience decreases when the learner is in closer proximity.
130
What scenario illustrates the effect of situational factors on obedience?
A student obeys a teacher in a canteen but refuses the same request outside a supermarket.
131
Fill in the blank: The advice to 'always wear your instructor jacket' suggests that a uniform is a symbol of _______.
[power]
132
What is the agentic state?
A state of mind where a person follows the orders of an authority figure, acting on their behalf and not feeling responsible for their actions.
## Footnote
Demonstrated in Milgram's study where participants continued to administer shocks after being told the experimenter was responsible.
133
What is legitimate authority?
The social power held by an authority figure that allows them to command obedience from others.
## Footnote
This authority is often based on perceived social status or expertise.
134
What type of experiment was Hofling's study?
Field experiment
## Footnote
Conducted in a natural setting (hospital) with the independent variable manipulated.
135
What was the independent variable (IV) in Hofling's study?
Whether the nurses were part of the experiment (told by the doctor to administer a fake drug) or part of the control group (asked to fill in a questionnaire).
136
What was the dependent variable (DV) in Hofling's study?
How many nurses obeyed the order and went to administer the drug to the patients.
137
What percentage of nurses obeyed the doctor's orders in Hofling's study?
95.45%
138
Name one ethical issue present in Hofling's study.
Deception, as neither the drug nor the doctor was real.
139
What is one strength of the methodology of Hofling's study?
High levels of ecological validity due to the real-life environment of the hospital.
140
What is a limitation of Hofling's study?
High attrition rate; only 22 nurses' data was available for the experimental group compared to 33 in the control group.
141
True or False: Hofling's study had low historical validity.
True
## Footnote
Conducted in 1966 when nurses were considered an 'underclass' compared to doctors.
142
What might explain why many nurses obeyed orders in Hofling's study?
Fear of repercussions and belief that the doctor knew best.
143
How does Hofling's research relate to Milgram's work?
Hofling's study supports Milgram’s findings on obedience.
144
Fill in the blank: The agent in Milgram’s study was _______.
[the experimenter]
145
What gave the authority figure legitimacy in Milgram's study?
The experimenter's perceived expertise and authoritative uniform.
146
What was one variation of Milgram's work that provided insight into legitimacy of authority?
The uniform variation where the experimenter wore different attire.
147
What does the agentic state suggest about individual responsibility?
Individuals do not feel responsible for their actions when acting as agents of authority.
148
Outline the structure of a 16 mark essay on agentic state and legitimacy of authority.
AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
## Footnote
Requires 4 PEE(L) paragraphs.
149
How many paragraphs are needed for an 8 marker?
2 PEE(L) paragraphs.
150
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating the agentic state?
Research support from studies like Hofling.
151
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating legitimate authority?
Low ecological validity in Milgram’s study.
152
What is the agentic state?
A state of mind where a person follows the orders of an authority figure, acting on their behalf and not feeling responsible for their actions.
## Footnote
Demonstrated in Milgram's study where participants continued to administer shocks after being told the experimenter was responsible.
153
What is legitimate authority?
The social power held by an authority figure that allows them to command obedience from others.
## Footnote
This authority is often based on perceived social status or expertise.
154
What type of experiment was Hofling's study?
Field experiment
## Footnote
Conducted in a natural setting (hospital) with the independent variable manipulated.
155
What was the independent variable (IV) in Hofling's study?
Whether the nurses were part of the experiment (told by the doctor to administer a fake drug) or part of the control group (asked to fill in a questionnaire).
156
What was the dependent variable (DV) in Hofling's study?
How many nurses obeyed the order and went to administer the drug to the patients.
157
What percentage of nurses obeyed the doctor's orders in Hofling's study?
95.45%
158
Name one ethical issue present in Hofling's study.
Deception, as neither the drug nor the doctor was real.
159
What is one strength of the methodology of Hofling's study?
High levels of ecological validity due to the real-life environment of the hospital.
160
What is a limitation of Hofling's study?
High attrition rate; only 22 nurses' data was available for the experimental group compared to 33 in the control group.
161
True or False: Hofling's study had low historical validity.
True
## Footnote
Conducted in 1966 when nurses were considered an 'underclass' compared to doctors.
162
What might explain why many nurses obeyed orders in Hofling's study?
Fear of repercussions and belief that the doctor knew best.
163
How does Hofling's research relate to Milgram's work?
Hofling's study supports Milgram’s findings on obedience.
164
Fill in the blank: The agent in Milgram’s study was _______.
[the experimenter]
165
What gave the authority figure legitimacy in Milgram's study?
The experimenter's perceived expertise and authoritative uniform.
166
What was one variation of Milgram's work that provided insight into legitimacy of authority?
The uniform variation where the experimenter wore different attire.
167
What does the agentic state suggest about individual responsibility?
Individuals do not feel responsible for their actions when acting as agents of authority.
168
Outline the structure of a 16 mark essay on agentic state and legitimacy of authority.
AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
## Footnote
Requires 4 PEE(L) paragraphs.
169
How many paragraphs are needed for an 8 marker?
2 PEE(L) paragraphs.
170
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating the agentic state?
Research support from studies like Hofling.
171
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating legitimate authority?
Low ecological validity in Milgram’s study.
172
What is the agentic state?
A state of mind where a person follows the orders of an authority figure, acting on their behalf and not feeling responsible for their actions.
## Footnote
Demonstrated in Milgram's study where participants continued to administer shocks after being told the experimenter was responsible.
173
What is legitimate authority?
The social power held by an authority figure that allows them to command obedience from others.
## Footnote
This authority is often based on perceived social status or expertise.
174
What type of experiment was Hofling's study?
Field experiment
## Footnote
Conducted in a natural setting (hospital) with the independent variable manipulated.
175
What was the independent variable (IV) in Hofling's study?
Whether the nurses were part of the experiment (told by the doctor to administer a fake drug) or part of the control group (asked to fill in a questionnaire).
176
What was the dependent variable (DV) in Hofling's study?
How many nurses obeyed the order and went to administer the drug to the patients.
177
What percentage of nurses obeyed the doctor's orders in Hofling's study?
95.45%
178
Name one ethical issue present in Hofling's study.
Deception, as neither the drug nor the doctor was real.
179
What is one strength of the methodology of Hofling's study?
High levels of ecological validity due to the real-life environment of the hospital.
180
What is a limitation of Hofling's study?
High attrition rate; only 22 nurses' data was available for the experimental group compared to 33 in the control group.
181
True or False: Hofling's study had low historical validity.
True
## Footnote
Conducted in 1966 when nurses were considered an 'underclass' compared to doctors.
182
What might explain why many nurses obeyed orders in Hofling's study?
Fear of repercussions and belief that the doctor knew best.
183
How does Hofling's research relate to Milgram's work?
Hofling's study supports Milgram’s findings on obedience.
184
Fill in the blank: The agent in Milgram’s study was _______.
[the experimenter]
185
What gave the authority figure legitimacy in Milgram's study?
The experimenter's perceived expertise and authoritative uniform.
186
What was one variation of Milgram's work that provided insight into legitimacy of authority?
The uniform variation where the experimenter wore different attire.
187
What does the agentic state suggest about individual responsibility?
Individuals do not feel responsible for their actions when acting as agents of authority.
188
Outline the structure of a 16 mark essay on agentic state and legitimacy of authority.
AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
## Footnote
Requires 4 PEE(L) paragraphs.
189
How many paragraphs are needed for an 8 marker?
2 PEE(L) paragraphs.
190
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating the agentic state?
Research support from studies like Hofling.
191
What is a key point to discuss when evaluating legitimate authority?
Low ecological validity in Milgram’s study.
192
What is the definition of 'disposition'?
A person’s inherent quality of mind and character.
## Footnote
This definition is found on page 39 of the Study Guide.
193
What does the F scale measure?
The authoritarian personality traits.
## Footnote
The F scale is a questionnaire used to assess an individual's authoritarian characteristics.
194
What percentage of participants in Milgram’s study obeyed and went all the way to 450 volts?
65%.
## Footnote
This statistic highlights the level of obedience observed in the study.
195
What is an Authoritarian Personality?
A personality type that tends to be especially obedient to authority and shows contempt for those perceived as inferior.
## Footnote
This personality type is characterized by conventional attitudes towards social issues.
196
List three characteristics of individuals with an authoritarian personality.
* Contempt for lower social status
* Conventional attitudes towards sex, race, and gender
* Belief in strong leaders to enforce traditional values
197
Fill in the blank: People with an authoritarian personality are inflexible in their outlook and believe everything is either _______ or wrong.
[right]
## Footnote
This reflects their black-and-white thinking.
198
What is the method of measuring the authoritarian personality?
Using the F scale.
## Footnote
The F scale consists of a series of statements that respondents agree or disagree with.
199
What did Elms and Milgram's study find regarding obedient participants?
Obedient participants scored higher on the F scale compared to disobedient participants.
## Footnote
This provides supporting evidence for the dispositional explanation of obedience.
200
True or False: Research by Middendorp and Meleon found that less-educated people are more likely to display authoritarian personality characteristics.
True.
## Footnote
This suggests that educational level may influence the presence of authoritarian traits.
201
What is one criticism of the F scale?
It lacks validity due to social desirability bias.
## Footnote
Sensitive questions may lead respondents to answer in a way they believe is more socially acceptable.
202
Outline the dispositional explanation of obedience.
The dispositional explanation suggests that obedience is related to the personality traits of individuals, particularly those with an authoritarian personality.
## Footnote
This explanation emphasizes the role of personal characteristics in determining obedience.
203
What is one counterpoint to the authoritarian personality explanation of obedience?
Some characteristics associated with authoritarian personality are not found in all obedient individuals.
## Footnote
This indicates that the explanation may be oversimplistic.
204
What alternative explanations exist for obedience apart from the authoritarian personality?
* Educational level
* Situational variables
205
What does resistance to social influence refer to?
The ability of people to withstand the pressure to conform to the majority or obey authority.
206
What are the two types of factors that influence resistance to social influence?
Situational and dispositional factors.
207
What is social support in the context of resistance to social influence?
The presence of others that can help an individual resist conformity or obedience.
208
How did Asch's study demonstrate the effect of social support on conformity?
The presence of a non-conformist confederate lowered overall conformity on the lines task.
209
What was the impact of social support in Milgram's obedience studies?
Obedience levels dropped from 65% to 10% when the teacher was joined by a disobedient confederate.
210
What is a strength of the social support explanation of resisting obedience?
Supported by Milgram's research showing lower obedience with disobedient peers.
211
What is a limitation of the social support explanation of resisting obedience?
Low ecological validity due to the artificial nature of the experimental setting.
212
What does locus of control refer to?
The extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them.
213
What are the two types of locus of control?
Internal and external locus of control.
214
How do individuals with an internal locus of control typically behave?
They are more likely to demonstrate independent behavior.
215
What did Shute's research find regarding internal locus of control?
People with an internal locus of control were less likely to conform to peer pressure on drug attitudes.
216
What is a limitation of the locus of control theory?
It is over-simplistic and does not account for the complexity of human behavior.
217
How did Holland's research support the locus of control explanation of resistance?
37% of internals did not continue to the highest shock level compared to 23% of externals.
218
What is a limitation of Holland's research?
Low ecological validity due to the artificial nature of the Milgram experiment.
219
Fill in the blank: In Milgram's variation, only ______ of participants continued to the full shock level when they had social support.
10%
220
True or False: The bystander effect is attributed solely to social influence.
False
221
What are the two factors attributed to the bystander effect by Latané and Darley?
* Diffusion of responsibility
* Social influence
222
How does an internal locus of control affect an individual's perception of their outcomes?
They believe their outcomes are due to their own actions and decisions.
223
How does an external locus of control affect an individual's perception of their outcomes?
They believe their outcomes are due to luck or external factors.
224
What is the significance of Asch’s unanimity variation in social support?
It provides evidence that social support can significantly reduce conformity.
225
What does the term 'ecological validity' refer to?
The extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings.
226
What is minority influence?
A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours.
## Footnote
It leads to internalisation, resulting in permanent change in private attitudes and public behaviours.
227
What are the three key qualities minorities need to be influential?
* Consistency
* Commitment
* Flexibility
228
How does consistency enhance minority influence?
The minority group will be more successful if all members have the same message over time, making it harder for the majority to ignore.
## Footnote
A consistent message indicates that an alternative view is available.
229
What role does commitment play in minority influence?
Minorities may engage in extreme activities to draw attention, demonstrating self-sacrifice which leads majority group members to pay more attention to them.
## Footnote
This is referred to as the 'augmentation principle'.
230
What is flexibility in the context of minority influence?
The minority should not be too rigid in their argument; they must be prepared to adapt their point of view and accept reasonable counter-arguments.
231
What is the snowball effect?
The phenomenon where increasing numbers of people switch from the majority position to the minority position over time, leading to internalisation of the minority's view.
232
True or False: A minority must maintain a rigid stance to be effective.
False
## Footnote
Rigidity can be off-putting and unlikely to result in conversions.
233
What is the augmentation principle?
The principle that majority group members pay more attention to a minority that demonstrates commitment through self-sacrifice.
234
Fill in the blank: The _____ effect describes how a minority view can gradually become the majority view.
snowball
235
Provide an example of commitment in minority influence.
Environmental campaigners engaging in self-sacrifice, such as no air travel.
236
What is a potential weakness of Moscovici's study on minority influence?
It has low ecological validity.
237
What does flexibility allow a minority to do?
It allows them to adapt their point of view and accept valid counter-arguments.
238
How can a group of students demonstrate consistency in their environmental campaign?
By giving the same message about the environmental benefits of becoming paper-free over time.
239
What strategy could a student use to demonstrate commitment in their campaign?
Designing an assembly to inform other students about going paper-free.
240
In what way could students demonstrate flexibility in their approach to becoming paper-free?
By suggesting to be paper-free for some things, like homework, but not for others, like letters home.
241
How might the snowball effect occur in a school setting regarding environmental awareness?
More students may decide to become paper-free as they see others doing the same.
242
How can a teacher show consistency in their views during staff meetings?
By maintaining a consistent message about not grading homework.
243
What risk might a teacher take to demonstrate commitment to their views?
Risking rejection from colleagues or upsetting students.
244
How can a teacher show flexibility in their grading policy?
By agreeing to grade some work, like mock exams, but not shorter tests or homework.
245
What did the four students decide to address regarding their college?
The lack of recycling facilities in the cafeteria
## Footnote
They had to throw everything in the same general waste bin.
246
How did the four students demonstrate consistency?
They repeatedly spoke to the head of student services and sent multiple emails about their concerns
## Footnote
They maintained their message over time.
247
How did the four students demonstrate commitment?
They gave up their free time to raise awareness and improve the recycling situation
## Footnote
They actively engaged with other students to get them on board.
248
How did the four students demonstrate flexibility?
They understood that changes wouldn't happen overnight and accepted that others might forget to use recycling bins
## Footnote
This shows adaptability in their approach.
249
What is meant by the snowball effect?
Minority influence initially has a small effect but spreads widely until it leads to large-scale social change
## Footnote
It reaches a 'tipping point'.
250
What is social change?
When a society adopts new beliefs or behaviors, often starting with a small group called minority influence
## Footnote
Examples include new laws reducing drink driving or smoking.
251
What is the first step in social change through minority influence?
Drawing attention to an issue
## Footnote
This creates a conflict that motivates resolution.
252
What is cognitive conflict in the context of minority influence?
The conflict between majority beliefs and the minority position that encourages deeper thinking about the issue
## Footnote
It doesn't always lead to a shift towards the minority view.
253
What is the consistency of position in minority influence?
Minorities are more influential when they express their arguments consistently over time
## Footnote
This makes it harder for the majority to ignore them.
254
What is the augmentation principle?
If a minority shows willingness to suffer for their views, they are perceived as more committed and are taken more seriously
## Footnote
Example: suffragettes risking imprisonment.
255
What does social cryptomnesia refer to?
When people remember that a change has occurred but forget how it happened
## Footnote
Example: forgetting the suffragette protests.
256
True or False: Social change is always rapid.
False
## Footnote
Social change is often gradual.
257
Outline the steps involved in minority influence that leads to social change.
* Drawing attention to an issue
* Cognitive conflict
* Consistency of position
* Augmentation principle
* Snowball effect
* Social cryptomnesia
258
Fill in the blank: Social change usually begins due to _______.
[minority influence]
259
What is one strength of Moscovici’s study?
It has high control over extraneous variables
## Footnote
This allows for valid cause and effect conclusions.
260
What is one limitation of Moscovici’s study?
It has low ecological validity
## Footnote
This may limit the generalizability of the findings.
261
What role does consistency play in minority influence according to Moscovici?
Consistency is a key factor that enhances minority influence and social change
## Footnote
It heightens the validity of the explanation.
