Social influences

Question 1

There are three social influence processes and each of them can be viewed as a different level at which individuals accept that they have been influenced.

Answer 1

Compliance, identification and internalisation are explained in terms of the reasoning people give for being influenced, the influencing agent who acts as the power source in society, and examples of each influencing process at play.

Question 2

Compliance

Answer 2

An individual changes attitudes or behaviour with the aim of being rewarded by, or avoiding punishment from, a person or group, or to gain approval or avoid disapproval from them. The desire for approval or a reward, or avoidance of disapproval or punishment, is worth accepting influence, even though the individual does not follow the beliefs of the influencing agent.

Influencing agent- people who have the power to reward and punish. Eg slowing down when someone sees a speed camera on a freeway.

Question 3

Identification

Answer 3

Identification arises when people change their attitudes or behaviours because they want to establish or sustain a satisfying relationship with another person. Influence is accepted by an individual because the behaviour and attitudes are associated with the desired relationship. This sort of influence occurs when the desired relationship is attractive and satisfying. As soon as the relationships’ purpose ceases to exist, the conforming behaviour will end.

Influencing agent- People that others believe having a relationship with would be attractive and important (e.g., a personal trainer helping someone reach their fitness goals, or a lawyer helping someone gain custody of their children).
Example- Students cooperating with their teachers and forming a positive rapport with them in order to receive resources, mentoring, and help with coursework.

Question 4

Internalisation

Answer 4

The individual accepts influence because the attitude or behaviour of the group is in line with those of the individual. The individual internalises the attitude or behaviour because they are intrinsically satisfied with it being a part of them. the behaviour is performed whenever the relevant issue arises.

Influencing agent- People who have credibility due to being trustworthy and an expert in their field (e.g., a medical practitioner). Example- People who take their cat to the vet for a yearly vaccination and check-up will follow the vets’ health care advice if the client shares the same attitude of the vet, that preventative care is important.

Question 5

Obedience

Answer 5

changing behaviour in response to a direct order by an authority figure.

Question 6

Social response to authority

Answer 6

Obedience occurs within a hierarchy with authority figures higher up than those following their commands. People who obey an authority figure usually do so in order to avoid punishment, or because they have a strong belief in the authority figure.

Question 7

Conformity

Answer 7

changing behaviour to align with those of a group due to real or implied pressure. Conformity occurs between people in the same social status and when explaining behaviour, people tend to take personal responsibility, rather than admit that they conformed.

Question 8

Factors affective conformity

Answer 8

Normative and informational influence
Culture
Group size
Unanimity
Deindividuation
Social loafing

Question 9

Normative and informational influence

Answer 9

Normative influence occurs when people conform because they want to be accepted by the group and not stand out. In this type of social influence, individuals do not necessarily share the same belief as the majority, but choose to disregard this fact in order to fit in.
Informational influence occurs when people conform because they would like to be correct and currently lack the information needed to be sure of their opinion or belief. Individuals seek the knowledge held by those in the group when deciding how best to behave.

Question 10

Culture

Answer 10

• Individualism and collectivism are both societal structures based on whether people’s identities rely on their personal choices, or on the society as a collective.
• Individualistic cultures value people standing out as an individual, and individual needs over the group, and believe independence and self-reliance are important. People in these cultures are less likely to conform to group norms than people from collectivist cultures.
• Collectivist cultures value the needs of the group over individual interests and view individuals putting themself first as selfish behaviour. Conformity is more likely to be seen in these cultures and is viewed favourably.

Question 11

Group size

Answer 11

Numerous researchers have found that rates of conformity increase as the group size increases, with groups of three to five members having the highest conformity level.

Question 12

Unanimity

Answer 12

When all members of a group behave a certain way, or share the same attitude, it is more likely that an individual will conform. When a group lacks unanimity the level of conformity, specifically normative conformity, decreases because individuals no longer feel the need to be accepted by the group.

Question 13

Deindividuation

Answer 13

the process whereby people have reduced self-awareness and feel less inhibited in group situations.
- Self-awareness shifts away from the self to the group situation and a mentality of ‘everyone is doing it so I can do it too’ occurs.
- Acting as part of a group rather than as an individual happens because the excitement of the situation leads individuals to feel anonymous and less self-conscious
- Deindividuation can be reduced by making people feel that they are identifiable.
- In a situation when people experience deindividuation in a group setting, individuals are likely to conform to the group norms of the particular group they find themselves in

Question 14

Social loafing

Answer 14

the tendency for an individual to reduce their effort when working in a group.
- Social loafing increases when the group size increases
- Collectivist cultures place more value on groups than individuals therefore social loafing occurs less often in collectivist cultures.

Question 15

Two types of self loathing

Answer 15

1. Sucker effect: an individual reducing their effort when working in a group after realizing other group members are not putting in effort. Individuals avoid being a ‘sucker’ and doing more work than the other members in the group. In the case of the sucker effect, the group norm is to put in minimal effort, therefore when an individual in the group decides to also reduce their effort
2. Free-rider effect: an individual reducing their effort when working in a group because they believe other group members can successfully complete the task without their input. Social loafing can be reduced by having the group made up of friends instead of strangers, by giving the task a high level of importance, and by making individuals accountable for their actions in the group by measuring their output and effort.