Social Psychology - Social Influence: Conformity and Obedience, Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Conformity

The phenomenon whereby an individual alters his or hers, attitudes, or behavior to bring them in accordance with those of a majority, no explicit demand

Informational Social Influence

We conform because we are unsure of the expected/accepted behavior, we use others as source of information

Ex: going to a Catholic Mass and copying others if we aren’t Catholic

Normative Social Influence

We conform because we want to be liked/accepted by others and/or fear the social consequences of appearing deviant, we want to be liked so we try to be like others

Conformity Studies Variables 

Group size, anonymity, witnessing nonconformity

Conformity Studies (Line Studies)

People denied their perception to fit in, example of normative social influence, 76% conformed to the wrong answer at least once

Group Size Variable

Conformation shoots up around 3 and then levels off (more people does NOT equal more conformity after 3 people)

Anonymity Variable

More inclined to stick with perception when your answers are anonymous

Witnessing Nonconformity Variable

Seeing others not conform makes you more inclined to also not conform

Obedience

Fulfilling the direct order or command of a person in authority

Milgram’s Obedience Studies

Learner receives an “fake” electric shock from the teacher after each wrong answer, sees how long teacher will continue the shocks, 65% WENT ALL THE WAY

Variables that impact obedience

Evolutionary Predisposition combined with Socialization, the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE), Characteristics of Authority, Witnessing Defiance, similar across age and personality

Evolutionary Predisposition combined with Socialization

People who obey normally survive longer and the feeling of being accepted/not accepted so we want to obey

Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE)

Not taking into account the power of the situation, “I would NEVER do that"

Characteristics of Authority

If a person "experimenter" looks legit, like they know what they're doing (can be fake), we are more inclined to obey

Physical Factor

It's easier to do bad things to someone when we don't have to actually "do" anything (ex: push a shock button vs. moving their arm to a shock plate)

Distance Factor

When authority is closer, we are more inclined to obey OR when the victim is farther away, we are more likely to obey

Witnessing Defiance

Less inclined to continue after seeing other people refuse to continue

Stereotyping

Overgeneralized beliefs about the traits of an individual solely based upon features that seem to indicate group membership, cognitive heuristic

Cognitive Heuristic

Mental short cut

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward an individual, solely, NOT JUSTIFIABLE

Discrimination

Negative behavior toward an individual, solely based upon that person's presumed membership in a particular group

Why is prejudice not justifiable?

Involves judging an individual negatively, independent of actual attributes or actions, tremendous variation exists in groups; assuming anything about all members of a group will lead to many errors, often leads to discrimination

Yes

Does PREJUDICE lead to DISCRIMINATION?

Why does prejudice persist?

Maintenance of Preferred Worldview - socialization, self-esteem boost, making exceptions

Optimal intergroup contact

Equal status between groups (in the situation), intimate and varied contact, intergroup cooperation toward achieving a superordinate goal, institutional support

Equal Status Factor

One group cannot have control

Intimate and Varied Contact Factor

Having a discussion or conversation with more than one individual of that group, reduces stereotyping and anxiety; promotes empathy

Superordinate Goal Factor

Goal that cannot be achieved by one of the groups by themselves

How to reduce prejudice without contact

Perspective-Taking

Perspective-Taking

Study about impact of seating distance and prejudice, people treated the potential interviewer the same