Psychology - Social Influence

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Conformity

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A change in a person's behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people

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Internalisation

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A deep type of conformity where we take on a majority view because we accept it as correct. It leads to a far-reaching and permanent change in behaviour, even when the group is absent.

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Identification

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A moderate type of conformity where we act in the same way with the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. But we don't necessarily agree with everything the majority believes.

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Compliance

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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.

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Informational Social Influence (ISI)

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An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it to be correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation.

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Normative Social Influence (NSI)

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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.

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Group size (Asch)

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Asch increased the size of the group by adding more confederates, thus increasing the size of the majority. Conformity increased with group size but only up to a point, levelling off when the majority was greater than 3.

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Unanimity (Asch)

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The extent to which all the members of the group agree. In Asch's study, the majority was unanimous when all the confederates selected the same comparison line. This produced the greatest degree of conformity in the naïve participants.

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Task difficulty (Asch)

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Asch's line judging task is more difficult when it becomes harder to work out the correct answer. Conformity increases because naïve participants assume that the majority is more likely to be correct.

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Social roles (Zimbardo)

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The 'parts' people play as members of various social groups. Everyday examples include parent, child, student, passenger and so on. These are accompanied by expectations we and others have of what is appropriate behaviour in each role, eg caring, obedient, industrious etc.

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Obedience (Milgram)

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A form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person issuing the direct order is usually a figure of authority, who had the power to punish when obedient behaviour is not forthcoming.

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Situational variables (Milgram)

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In his research, Milgram identified several factors that he believed influenced the level of obedience shown by participants. They are all related to the external circumstances rather than to the personality of the people involved, and includes: Proximity, Location and Uniform.

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Proximity (Milgram)

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The physical closeness or distance of an authority figure to the person the giving an order to. Also refers to the physical closeness of the teacher to the victim (learner) in Milgram's studies.

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Location (Milgram)

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The place where an order is issued. The relevant factor that influence obedience is the status or prestige associated with the location

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Uniform (Milgram)

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People in positions of authority often have a specific outfit which is symbolic of their authority, eg police officers and judges. This indicates to the rest of us who is entitled to expect our obedience.

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Agentic state

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A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure, ie as their agent. This frees us from the demands of our consciences and allows us to obey even a destructive authority figure.

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Legitimacy of authority

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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 (legit) by the individual's position of power within a social hierarchy.

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Dispositional explanation

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Any explanation of behaviour that highlights the importance of the individual's personality (ie their disposition). Such explanations are often contrasted with situational explanations.

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Authoritarian personality

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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.

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Resistance to social influence

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Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.

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Social support

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The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.

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Minority influence

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A form of social influence in which a minority of people (sometimes just 1 person) persuade others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes or behaviours. Leads to internalisation or conversion, in which private attitudes are changed as well as public behaviours.

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Consistency

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Minority influence is most effective if the minority keeps the same beliefs, both over time and between all the individuals that form the minority. It's effective because it draws attention to the minority view.

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Commitment

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Minority influence is more powerful if the minority demonstrates dedication to their position, e.g. making personal sacrifices. This is effective because it shows the minority is not acting out of self interest.

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Flexibility

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Relentless consistency could be counter-productive if it is seen by the majority as unbending and unreasonable. Therefore minority influence is more effective if the minority show flexibility by accepting the possibility of compromise.

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Social influence

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The process by which individuals and groups change each other's attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence.

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Social change

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This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things. E.g. women's suffrage, gay rights, environmental issues ect.