WEEK 15

Flashcards on Social Influence: Conformity and Obedience

Conformity

Change in behavior or attitude due to group pressure; a form of social influence where individuals alter their behavior, attitude, or beliefs to align with group norms or expectations, driven by the desire to fit in and belong to a group.

Sheriff (1935) - Ambiguous Task

A study where participants in a dark room observed a small ray of light and gave estimates of light movement; in groups, estimates converged, indicating social influence in ambiguous situations impacting judgments and leading to conformity.

Asch (1951) - Unambiguous Task

A study that investigated the effects of majority pressure on conformity, where participants were asked to identify which of the three lines corresponded to a standard line, and confederates intentionally gave wrong answers; participants gave wrong answers 37% of the time due to social influence.

Normative Social Influence

Desire to be liked or accepted; people conform to gain approval or avoid disapproval, suppressing personal thoughts and beliefs to align with group norms.

Informational Social Influence

Relying on information from others in ambiguous situations; decisions are influenced by the majority, particularly when uncertain, assuming that the majority is more knowledgeable leading to conformity.

Franzen and Mader (2023) Replication of Asch Study

Replication of Asch Study that Extended the study by introducing monetary incentives and political statements. Findings: With no money involved, 37% conformed. With monetary incentives, conformity reduced to 25%. When presented with political statements, 38% conformed.

Compliance

Shallow level of conformity; conforming to expectations to gain approval or avoid disapproval, outwardly agreeing but inwardly disagreeing.

Identification

Middle level of conformity; temporary change in belief or behavior due to environment, aligning with a new environment

Internalization

Deepest level of conformity; private and public conformity, internalizing group ideas, impacting beliefs and behaviors

Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo, 1973)

Investigated the role of environment and assigned roles on behavior; guards and prisoners internalized their roles, with guards devising new ways to humiliate prisoners. Prisoners became depressed and anxious; several were released early.

Psychology of Evil

Psychological and social factors influencing moral people to commit violence or evil acts; Evil acts may result from normative or group pressure, situational or environmental factors

Lucifer Effect

Suspending moral judgment due to group influence

Banality of Evil (Hannah Arendt)

Concept that ordinary people can be influenced by societal roles based on his observation during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi official, who appeared terrifyingly normal and challenged his judgment based on his inability to reflect morally or critically about his actions

Obedience

Following orders from someone in a position of authority or power.

Milgram Experiment (1963)

Investigated the extent to which people would obey orders, even if it involved harming another person; 65% of participants administered shocks up to the maximum 450 volts; Demonstrated that individuals may go against their conscience and inflict harm on others when instructed by an authority figure.

Hofling et al (1966)

Nurses were called on the phone by someone claiming to be a medical doctor, and were instructed to administer a clearly lethal dose of a drug (that was not actually dangerous) to a patient. The study showed the influence that people in authority can have over others.

Locus of Control

The extent to which individuals feel they can control their own behavior

Internal locus of control

Sense of responsibility on behavior, leading to a greater independence of mind.

External locus of control

Attributing events to external factors, leading to a sense of helplessness and passiveness.

Authoritarian Personality

Submissive to authority and dismissive of those who are inferior; Strict adherence to instructions/societal norms