Psychology Social Influence DETAILED FLASHCARDS

What is conformity?

A type of social influence where an individual changes their behaviour or beliefs due to pressure from a group.

What are the three types of conformity? (Kelman)

Internalisation, identification, and compliance.

What is internalisation?

When an individual genuinely accepts the group's beliefs as their own. The change is private and public and is usually permanent.

Which type of social influence usually leads to internalisation?

Informational Social Influence (ISI)

What is identification?

When an individual adopts the behaviour and beliefs of a group they value, but only while they are a member of that group. The change is temporary.

What is compliance?

When an individual adopts the behaviour and beliefs of a group they value, but only while they are a member of that group. The change is temporary.

Which type of social influence usually leads to compliance?

Normative social influence (NSI)

What is normative social influence (NSI)?

Conformity based on the desire to be liked or accepted by a group. Individuals conform to avoid rejection or disapproval.

What type of conformity does NSI usually produce?

Compliance.

Give an example of NSI.

Going alone with friends' opinions to avoid embarrassment or rejection.

What is informational social influence (ISI)?

ISI occurs when individuals conform because they want to be correct and believe others have more accurate information.

When is ISI most likely to occur?

In ambiguous situations, emergencies, or when a person lacks knowledge.

What type of conformity does ISI usually produce?

Internalisation.

What was Asch investigating?

The extent to which individuals conform to majority influence.

Describe Asch's line judgement task.

Participants had to identify which comparison line matched a standard line, while confederates deliberately gave incorrect answers.

What percentage of responses were conforming in Asch's study?

36.8% of responses were conforming.

How many participants conformed at least once?

75%

How does group size effect conformity?

Conformity increases with group size up to about three confederates, after which it levels off.

Why does conformity not increase beyond a group size of four?

Additional members do not significantly increase pressure or confidence in the majority.

How does unanimity affect conformity?

Conformity is highest when the majority is unanimous.

What happened when one confederate disagreed with the majority in Asch's study?

Conformity dropped from about 32% to around 5.5%.

Why does unanimity increase conformity?

It increases confidence in the group's correctness and removes social support for dissent.

How does task difficulty affect conformity?

Conformity increases as task difficulty increases.

Why does task difficulty increase conformity?

Individuals become less confident in their own judgement and rely on others for information (ISI).

What is obedience?

A form of social influence where an individual follows a direct order from someone perceived as having authority.

What is the agentic state?

A mental state where a person sees themselves as acting on behalf of an authority figure and not responsible for their actions.

What is an agentic shift?

The transition from an autonomous state to an agentic state.

What is legitimacy of authority?

The extent to which an authority figure is seen as having the right to give orders.

Why were participants more obedient in Milgram's study?

The experimenter was seen as a legitimate authority due to his scientific role and association with Yale University.

What was the aim of Milgram's study?

To investigate whether ordinary people would obey an authority figure who ordered them to harm another person.

What type of study was Milgram's obedience experiment?

A laboratory experiment.

Who were the participants in Milgram's study?

40 male volunteers aged 20-50, recruited through newspaper adverts.

What roles were used in Milgram's study?

The participant was always the 'teacher' and the confederate was the 'learner'.

What tasks were participants asked to do in Milgram's study?

They were asked to give the learner an electric shock every time an incorrect answer was given.

How did the shocks increase in Milgram's study?

In 15-volt increments, from 15V up to 450V.

Were the electric shocks real?

No, the shocks were fake but participants believed they were real.

What percentage of students went to 450V?

65%.

Did any participants stop before 300V?

No, all participants continued to at least 300V.

What did Milgram conclude from his findings?

Ordinary people are surprisingly obedient to authority, even when actions conflict with personal morals.

How does proximity affect obedience?

Obedience decreases when the authority figure is further away.

What happened when the experimenter gave instructions over the phone?

Obedience dropped to around 20.5%.

Why does proximity increase obedience?

The physical presence of authority increases pressure to obey.

How does location affect obedience?

Obedience is higher in prestigious locations.

Why did Yale University increase obedience?

Yale increased the legitimacy of the authority figure.

What happened when the study was conducted in a run-down office?

Obedience dropped significantly to around 20.5%.

How does uniform affect obedience?

Uniform increases obedience by increasing perceived authority.

Why does a lab coat increase obedience?

It signals expertise and legitimate authority.

How does the agentic state explain Milgram's findings?

Participants believed the experimenter was responsible for the consequences.

How was authority made legitimate in Milgram's study?

Through the experimenter's role as a scientist and the prestigious location.

Give two strengths of Milgram's study.

It has high internal validity because many participants believed the shocks were real. It has real-life applications in understanding obedience to destructive authority.

Give one ethical issue in Milgram's study.

Participants experienced psychological distress.

Why is Milgram's study criticised for ethics?

It involved deception and did not protect participants from stress.

Give one validity issue with Milgram's study.

Participants may have obeyed due to trust in the prestigious setting rather than authority itself.

What is the authoritarian personality?

A personality type characterised by rigid thinking, respect for authority, and hostility towards those seen as inferior.

Who proposed the authoritarian personality?

Adorno.

How is authoritarian personality measured?

Using the F-scale.

Why is the F-scale bias?

It is vulnerable to acquiescence bias.

What is social support?

The presence of others who resist conformity or obedience, reducing pressure on the individual.

How did social support affect conformity in Asch's study?

One dissenter reduced conformity to one-quarter of its original level.

What is locus of control?

A measure of how much control a person feels they have over their life.

What is an internal locus of control?

Belief that outcomes are determined by personal actions.

What is an external locus of control?

Belief that outcomes are due to fate or external forces.

Who is more resistant to social influence?

Individuals with a high internal locus of control.

What is minority influence?

When a smaller group persuades the majority to adopt their beliefs.

Why is consistency important in minority influence?

It makes the minority appear confident and committed, encouraging deeper processing.

What are the two types of consistency?

Diachronic (over time) and synchronic (agreement between members).

How does commitment increase minority influence?

It demonstrates dedication and encourages the majority to reconsider their views.

Why must minorities be flexible?

To avoid appearing extreme or unreasonable, which increases persuasion.

What did Moscovici find?

A consistent minority influenced around 8% of participants to give an incorrect answer.