Social influence Flashcards
(18 cards)
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.
Internalisation
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to far reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent.
Identification
A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way as the group because we value it and want to be part of it. However, we don’t necessarily agree with everything the group/majority believes.
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.
Informational social influence
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it is correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation.
Normative social influence
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance.
Social roles
The ‘parts’ people play as members of various social groups. Examples include parent, child, student etc. These roles are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role.
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.
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 conscience and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure.
Legitimacy of authority
An explanation for obedience which suggests 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 of power within a social hierarchy.
Dispositional explanation
Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual’s personality.
Authoritarian personality
A type of 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.
Resistance to social influence
Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey authority.
Social support
The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. These people acts as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
Locus of control (LOC)
Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives. Internals believe they themselves are mostly responsible for what happens to them. Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces.
Minority influence
A form of social influence in which a minority of people persuades others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. Leads to internalisation and the minority becoming the majority.
Social influence
The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours.
Social change
This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things.
